as in obligates
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Recent Examples of compels
The hope is that, armed with new technology, that decline of foreign aid serves a rallying call that compels African countries to forge their own paths, free from the constraints of aid dependency and external policy pressures.
—
Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Maybe we’re supposed to believe that that promise is what compels Lee to stand off against Frank at One Well when a smart man would be running out the door.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Economic change also compels extra rethinking.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
And for me, that is the fuel that compels this need to create a new era of truth and justice.
—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
What compels them to take on such dangerous assignments?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Both sides may have reasons to cut a deal before pretrial discovery compels Goodell, Gruden and others to testify under oath and share sensitive emails, texts and other documents.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Its central relationship compels, its side characters are rizz-y, and the writing is fire.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Still, the desire to understand the planet compels them to keep putting on their snowsuits, their wet suits, their business suits.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
Maybe we’re supposed to believe that that promise is what compels Lee to stand off against Frank at One Well when a smart man would be running out the door.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Economic change also compels extra rethinking.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
And for me, that is the fuel that compels this need to create a new era of truth and justice.
—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
What compels them to take on such dangerous assignments?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Both sides may have reasons to cut a deal before pretrial discovery compels Goodell, Gruden and others to testify under oath and share sensitive emails, texts and other documents.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Its central relationship compels, its side characters are rizz-y, and the writing is fire.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Still, the desire to understand the planet compels them to keep putting on their snowsuits, their wet suits, their business suits.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compels
Verb
-
In May, the city passed new rules requiring retailers with at least 76 carts to either install theft prevention mechanisms, use security deposit devices, or enter into a cart retrieval contract that obligates proactive efforts to pick up their carts.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The recommendation only obligates actions if the parties choose to adopt it.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While China often threatens and coerces other countries, such as in disputes with South Korea and Australia, its actions are often triggered by events that China feels directly threaten its core interests.—
David C. Kang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Compulsory heterosexuality is a theoretical framework coined by lesbian scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 to describe how heterosexuality as an institution compels and coerces female sexuality for patriarchal purposes.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Rasmus Hojlund is the beneficiary and duly obliges with a low finish through goalkeeper Rui Silva’s legs for a goal that will live long in the memory.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate obliges them to manage both inflation and unemployment.—
Drew O'Connor,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But André, who Bonitzer has named after the early surrealist André-Aimé-René Masson, soon confronts our man with a situation that — at least on some distant subconscious level — forces him to re-evaluate his metrics.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
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This structural gap seriously limits access to highly specialized medical care and forces many countries to rely on training centers abroad, creating imbalances in both quality and equity.—
Dr. Victor Raúl Castillo Mantilla,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Can Green Bay finish drives with touchdowns without Kraft, who has hauled in six of Love's 13 TD passes this year?—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
If search reliability drives a beat, update evergreen explainers and refine the internal links that help readers stay oriented.—
Malana VanTyler,
Ascend Agency,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compels. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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