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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Recent Examples of compelled
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
You might be compelled to flirt with the visible lingerie trend or pair a new faux fur coat with tall Uggs.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
As a viewer in the moment, the speech compelled me.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The popularity of online resale sites, like TheRealReal or Fashionphile, has compelled brick-and-mortar shops to rethink their pricing.
—Mari Sato, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Tensions are so high that the club has felt compelled to take special measures for this weekend’s match.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The company sued the state of New York in June over the Stop Hiding Hate Act, which compelled companies to outline steps taken to combat extremism, disinformation and other potentially harmful content.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, but none has been compelled to do so.
—Steven Sloan, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Khanna and Massie led the charge in Congress, earning support on a discharge petition to force a vote on a measure that compelled Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the files.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
Given rising trade tensions and the likely unsustainable strength in the export sector, Beijing might eventually be compelled to ramp up its policy measures significantly.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2026
You might be compelled to flirt with the visible lingerie trend or pair a new faux fur coat with tall Uggs.
—Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
As a viewer in the moment, the speech compelled me.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The popularity of online resale sites, like TheRealReal or Fashionphile, has compelled brick-and-mortar shops to rethink their pricing.
—Mari Sato, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Tensions are so high that the club has felt compelled to take special measures for this weekend’s match.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The company sued the state of New York in June over the Stop Hiding Hate Act, which compelled companies to outline steps taken to combat extremism, disinformation and other potentially harmful content.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, but none has been compelled to do so.
—Steven Sloan, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2025
Khanna and Massie led the charge in Congress, earning support on a discharge petition to force a vote on a measure that compelled Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the files.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
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
-
Avoid sharp or forced motions, and keep good posture to prevent injury.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These were gangsters, so they weren’t obliged to couch this any way but direct.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Shaw-naé pushed for an in-person appointment, and the doctor obliged.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Deradicalization is equally vital—not as a coerced reeducation, but as part of a healing process that encompasses Israelis as well as Palestinians.—
Samer Sinijlawi,
The Atlantic,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Prosecutors retried one of the men, John Kogut – who had made a coerced confession to the murder – but he was acquitted.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Things got complicated at that point, given that Kern County’s district attorney was obligated to recuse herself and Atty.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Under reporting requirements to antitrust enforcers, companies are obligated to provide notice of large mergers, including hostile bids.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Traffic stops represent the most common nonvoluntary interaction between citizens and police officers in the U.S.—
Derek Epp,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2023
-
Of the 59 CEOs who departed S&P 500 firms last year, 30.5% were let go on a nonvoluntary basis, up from 22.1% in 2017, according to the Conference Board's 2019 CEO Succession Practices report.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Compelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelled. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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