as in forced
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as in obliged
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compelled
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Cats, however, remain autonomous, understanding the situation without feeling compelled to intervene unless there’s a direct benefit for themselves.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
Like others, Nikki Halsey learned of the event via Instagram and felt compelled to give it a try.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Despite the title, each guest is compelled to bring Winegar some token to be opened and discussed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Both are compelled by a strange force beyond their control.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
He is occasionally asked to comment on acts of public violence, compelled to defend the many vigilantes who have appeared in his wake.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
The ensuing outrage compelled the outlet to remove the images.
—Angelica Kalika, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
But Robinson was nevertheless compelled to make his feelings known.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Adjective
True personal data sovereignty requires systems that make compelled access technically impossible, not merely contractually discouraged.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
If those studies are widely accepted as valid scientific work, then judges will be compelled to admit them as evidence in any lawsuits against said companies.
—ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Cats, however, remain autonomous, understanding the situation without feeling compelled to intervene unless there’s a direct benefit for themselves.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 10 June 2026
Like others, Nikki Halsey learned of the event via Instagram and felt compelled to give it a try.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Despite the title, each guest is compelled to bring Winegar some token to be opened and discussed.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Both are compelled by a strange force beyond their control.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
He is occasionally asked to comment on acts of public violence, compelled to defend the many vigilantes who have appeared in his wake.
—Kevin Lozano, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
The ensuing outrage compelled the outlet to remove the images.
—Angelica Kalika, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
But Robinson was nevertheless compelled to make his feelings known.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelled
Adjective
-
Now, a federal indictment charges Peña Lopez and Correa Peña with forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor, according to prosecutors.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
-
All of Wyeth’s translations were bad, forced, totally artificial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And not only is the government legally obligated to allow for comments on the rule, they are also obliged to respond.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
-
The book was typeset by an Italian printer who had no English, and Lawrence felt obliged to tell him what was in the book.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Such coerced displacement did not — and could not — extinguish rights guaranteed by a still-valid agreement.—
Shaun Chapoose,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
-
Russia has targeted the children through coerced adoption and family separation, forcing them to speak the Russian language and take on its cultural identity and customs — what’s known as Russification.—
Shahrzad Rasekh,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Musicians aren’t obligated to do anything political as part of the job, and plenty of audiences appreciate when artists don’t preach partisan points of view.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
-
The port’s existing agreement with the fuel yard’s operator runs through May 2027, and the new owners are obligated to let fuel sales continue under that contract.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelled. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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