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
Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 14 May 2025
What started as a part-time gig and a family tradition is quickly becoming a compelling franchise opportunity in the landscaping industry.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Weekend picks Lucie Faulknor/PBS Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Free for All: The Public Library, a new PBS film, examines the value of libraries in the past and makes a compelling case for the importance of the American public library system today.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 May 2025
And at the end of the day, there’s nothing more compelling than that.
—Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Adjective
Densmore was a jazz drummer, Manzarek was steeped in Chicago blues, Morrison was a poet with a compelling set of pipes, and Krieger was a flamenco guitarist.
—Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 14 May 2025
What started as a part-time gig and a family tradition is quickly becoming a compelling franchise opportunity in the landscaping industry.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 3 May 2025
Weekend picks Lucie Faulknor/PBS Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Free for All: The Public Library, a new PBS film, examines the value of libraries in the past and makes a compelling case for the importance of the American public library system today.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 May 2025
And at the end of the day, there’s nothing more compelling than that.
—Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelling
Adjective
-
Drucker is able to conjure a frosty authority that is entirely convincing, while simultaneously hinting at vulnerabilities that nobody within the narrative is allowed to see.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
After a convincing defeat to a team looking to get back to the Cup Final, the question is, how close is Vegas’ championship window to closing?—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Advocates and outreach workers gathered at The Stoop Collaborative Monday to celebrate its opening and underscore the urgent needs of the region’s homeless population.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2025
-
And yet, even in the face of these urgent challenges, there are those who still claim that the true purpose of college is something more abstract: the cultivation of character, the shaping of citizens, the appreciation of beauty and debate.—
Scott Pulsipher,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps the most conclusive evidence assembled has been the 800 page report and interactive digital platform by experts at Forensic Architecture.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
The filmmakers are never conclusive about Enzo’s burgeoning sexuality nor his plans for the future, and that’s clearly by design.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The sudden heat spike, which was made more likely by the decades-long failure to stop burning fossil fuels, creates an acute danger for a populace not yet acclimatized to summer heat.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
-
Nearly 71,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under five are expected between April 2025 and March 2026, the report said.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Pressuring or coercing someone into ending their life would be punishable by up to 14 years in prison.—
Alistair Smout,
USA TODAY,
29 Nov. 2024
-
That same sentence will remain for anyone found guilty of tricking, pressuring or coercing someone into making the choice if the bill is ultimately passed.—
David Hodari,
NBC News,
29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
13 Jan. 2023
-
According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.—
Elliot Hughes,
Journal Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2023
Verb
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By forcing his posts to the top of feeds, elevating like-minded voices, and driving critics off the platform, Musk revealed the raw power of ownership.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
14 Apr. 2025
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So what’s driving the need for these changes?—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelling. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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