COMPELLING Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

compelling 1 of 2

adjective

kəm-ˈpe-liŋ

Definition of compelling

as in convincing

having the power to persuade made a compelling argument against military intervention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in urgent

needing immediate attention no compelling need to raise taxes at this time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

compelling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of compel

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

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 compelling

Adjective

For Thorpe, renewing this proposition of difference doesn’t necessarily mean more athletes, but more compelling athletes stories instead, where the players have influence and creative input — not just a standard sponsorship. — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026 But surrounding myself with people who fascinate me, whose talents are different from mine, was very compelling. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

His mission is to keep photos of the lounge off social media, compelling the curious to come in and see it for themselves. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 8 July 2026 Selaocoe extends that feeling after the song ends by once again compelling the audience to join him in song. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for compelling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelling

Adjective

But his effort to boost Republicans largely have targeted voters who need the least convincing.

— Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Balzano expects automotive assembly, warehousing and logistics to provide some of the first convincing financial returns.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of convincing

Adjective

Ukrainian officials have expressed deep concern over the attacks, saying there is an urgent need for the country to be able to rapidly respond to missile and drone threats.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Current government figures estimate that prisons, which hovered somewhere between 97% and 98% capacity last month, will fill up by November without urgent action.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of urgent

Verb

Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis descended from their northern stronghold, capturing Sanaa and forcing the government to flee into exile in Saudi Arabia.

— AHMED AL-HAJ, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Aubrey Layne, Sentara’s chief administrative officer, said lower payment rates from government programs — and impending cuts to Medicaid — are forcing the hospital to play hardball with the insurers that are representing employers.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of forcing

Adjective

An employee at one public hospital said there are shortages of key specialized psychiatric medicines to treat bipolar disorders and acute psychosis, and more common medications for anxiety and panic disorders.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
These shocks are even more acute outside the United States, which is the world’s largest energy producer.

— Greg Pollock, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of acute

Verb

Playing that cat, a work camp warden coercing Hawke’s character into smuggling gold through the wilderness, is none other than Russell Crowe.

— Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
But in the past, these efforts were largely aimed at threatening or coercing Washington to act in their favor.

— Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of coercing

Adjective

Mercury in Scorpio squares Mars in Leo, making opinions stronger, reactions quicker, and certain conversations easier to escalate than intended.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Fire officials had also failed to take advantage of satellite imagery after strong winds grounded their typical eyes in the sky, aircraft.

— Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of strong

Verb

Recipe development can be a self-effacing task, obliging the writer to anticipate the appetites and routines of her imagined reader.

— Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
First is to prevent their further migration by enforcing an international treaty obliging national authorities to treat ballast waters inside incoming ships that may carry such species.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026

Definition of obliging

Browse Nearby Words

compelled

compelling

compels

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelling. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of compelling

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

discreet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes