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
Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Though the pacing and breadth of the episode ensure that things never get boring, not all the stories are equally compelling.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
This approach would have put unions on the defensive, compelling them to confront the state’s dire financial realities.
—Frank Ricci, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Adjective
Korea’s combination of AI leadership, policy reform, and valuations continue to offer a compelling case.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Though the pacing and breadth of the episode ensure that things never get boring, not all the stories are equally compelling.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
This approach would have put unions on the defensive, compelling them to confront the state’s dire financial realities.
—Frank Ricci, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelling
Adjective
-
The least convincing aspect of the show is the conspiracy itself, which seems oversimplified for a scandal of its magnitude.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The woman in question appears to be none other than Cinda herself — or a convincing doppelgänger — setting up a mystery that will take OMITB full circle as the trio solves the murder of the person who brought them together in the first place.—
Sabienna Bowman,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The plot unfolds at the urgent but erratic pace of a life-altering business deal, as Bonitzer unfussily steers us through a series of small rooms as people scramble to determine the proper thing to do with Schiele’s painting.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
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To Trump, of course, gutting the Civil Rights Act is likely to be a point of pride, enabling the government to focus on more urgent matters, such as protecting white students from the purportedly harmful effects of diversity-equity-and-inclusion programs.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rather than forcing lopsided trade deals on allies and friends, Washington would do better to organize a common message to Chinese leaders that a business model that fuels deflation at home and anger abroad is untenable.—
Christopher Smart,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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In the fourth quarter, Butler continued to dice up Los Angeles, his off-the-dribble bounce pass assist to Draymond Green pushing the lead to 20 with six minutes left and forcing a timeout.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Researchers further explain that the discovery of microscopic deformation features in quartz provides conclusive proof that the Jinlin crater was formed by an asteroid impact.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement What the NFL changed to reduce injuries In recent years, as research about CTE has become more conclusive, some sports leagues have begun to concede that head impacts are a problem.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But the interest in the East Wing demolition had been acute enough that a local-news outlet had identified one of the East Wing dump sites—an industrial park in Hyattsville, Maryland.—
Nancy Walecki,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The impact is already being felt in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, where UNICEF reports an alarming 11% rise in the number of children with acute malnutrition between January and September this year.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Employers would be prohibited from pressuring or coercing anyone into signing such a waiver.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Smith said Thursday in a news release that Stubblefield leaves behind a legacy of strong, principled leadership.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Toklas went on to fiercely uphold the author’s legacy, honoring Stein’s apparent desire to be understood while at the same time respecting her equally strong wish to remain elusive.—
Daphne Merkin,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2025.
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