1
as in convincing
having the power to persuade
made a compelling argument against military intervention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
no compelling need to raise taxes at this time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forcing
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
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Recent Examples of compelling
Questlove, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
Having said that, the most compelling aspect of this doc isn’t the tech itself, but rather how these newfangled tools allow Cameron to reinforce the most basic aspects of cinematic storytelling.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Adjective
In straightforward and compelling prose, Sammy, then 40, tells the story of his vaudeville beginnings, his growth as an entertainer, and his movement through America.
—Questlove, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
Having said that, the most compelling aspect of this doc isn’t the tech itself, but rather how these newfangled tools allow Cameron to reinforce the most basic aspects of cinematic storytelling.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
San Mateo County has yet to release spending and contract records from a misconduct investigation into Sheriff Christina Corpus, despite a court order more than three weeks ago compelling their disclosure.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelling
Adjective
-
There was a top 10 team that lost, but BYU was a 10-point underdog at Texas Tech, so the Red Raiders’ convincing win wasn’t technically all that surprising.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Probably convincing-ish-ly American.—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Singing this material with players who improvise — solos changing, every version being a little different — taught me about that urgent live-ensemble space where everyone’s living and dying by the next player onstage.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
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This urgent political thriller about Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh opened the 2025 Venice International Film Festival before moving on to Telluride, Toronto, New York and London.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bloomberg | Getty Images Private equity fund managers are bracing for a wave of consolidation as investors demand higher returns and stronger governance, forcing a shakeout in an overcrowded industry, several industry veterans said at a high-level finance summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The reductions announced on Wednesday could cause even more disruption, forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule thousands of flights per day.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Though home blood pressure monitors are effective, a healthcare provider can provide more accurate and conclusive results.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Despite numerous conclusive assessments that the Saudi regime planned and perpetrated Khashoggi’s murder, the high-level officials who ordered his execution have gone unpunished, six years on.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The more jihadist terrorists attack and displace civilian populations — who become refugees in their own country — the more poverty, already acute at 60%, rises and religious freedoms are suppressed.—
Kingsley Moghalu,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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But Michael has also hit several roadblocks, with the King of Pop's past legal troubles haunting the production and Jackson's daughter, Paris, decrying its depiction of her late father, who died in 2009 from acute propofol intoxication.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lawsuit accused the company of coercing customers into signing agreements that allowed the company to act as the exclusive real estate listing agent for an undisclosed period of time.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Nov. 2025
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In one recent case, a 22-year-old man used Discord to prey on victims as young as 12 years old, coercing them into creating explicit content.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Nov. 2025
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But despite strong technical progress, widespread adoption remains challenging due to cost, infrastructure demands, and limited technological maturity.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Vance and his family reportedly stayed in a lavish Georgian manor owned by a light-bulb magnate, obliging me to ask whose bright idea that was.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelling. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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