as in forced
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in obliged
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compelled
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Victims would not be compelled to testify against their wishes, according to Rashid.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The deposition of Bill Clinton on Friday marked the first time a former president was compelled to testify before a congressional committee.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah was decimated and soon compelled to sign a cease-fire agreement on Israel’s terms.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The woman, who also took video of them, said she felt compelled to stand up to them.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
The deposition in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York, marked the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Poor market performance in the first several years of retirement can permanently damage your purchasing power, especially if you’re compelled to take withdrawals.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
But a coroner can’t do that unilaterally, the NSW Coroner’s Court told CNN –– an inquest needs to be requested by police or a party with new evidence or compelled by the Supreme Court or the attorney general.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 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
Republicans compelled the former secretary of state to testify; her husband, former President Bill Clinton will do so today.
—semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Victims would not be compelled to testify against their wishes, according to Rashid.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
The deposition of Bill Clinton on Friday marked the first time a former president was compelled to testify before a congressional committee.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah was decimated and soon compelled to sign a cease-fire agreement on Israel’s terms.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
The woman, who also took video of them, said she felt compelled to stand up to them.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
The deposition in the Clintons’ hometown of Chappaqua, New York, marked the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress.
—Stephen Groves, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Poor market performance in the first several years of retirement can permanently damage your purchasing power, especially if you’re compelled to take withdrawals.
—Bruce Helmer, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
But a coroner can’t do that unilaterally, the NSW Coroner’s Court told CNN –– an inquest needs to be requested by police or a party with new evidence or compelled by the Supreme Court or the attorney general.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelled
Adjective
-
Security measures include blast-proof windows, doors that can resist forced entry, cameras, fences, and vehicle barriers.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Lauren Saab adds that any sign with generic greetings tends to make an entry feel forced.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Often, grand jurors are obliged to sit for months at a time, often at great personal expense, demonstrating admirable and selfless fortitude in service of this important public service.—
Barbara Jaffe,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The response from the government — to subsidize household energy bills — raised public borrowing hugely, the consequences of which are still being felt today, while higher inflation obliged the Bank of England to operate restrictive monetary policy.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
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
-
If material weaknesses exist, auditors are obligated to report them.—
Helen Amos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
-
And the president is obligated under the Constitution to come to Congress and ask for an authorization of military force.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 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 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
