1
as in drove
to set or keep in motion
gasoline impels a car's engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
I felt impelled to tell the truth, however painful it might be
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impelled
Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies.
—
David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
While the recent protests were sparked by the social media ban, protesters said that they had been impelled by years of government corruption and failure to provide young people with economic opportunities.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
While the recent protests were sparked by the social media ban, protesters said that they had been impelled by years of government corruption and failure to provide young people with economic opportunities.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impelled
Verb
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However, Paul drove to a bar and took shots with Connor, according to surveillance video from the bar obtained by Greenville News.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The Martinezes drove up from Miami to welcome their new baby to the family.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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North Korea simply may no longer feel strongly compelled to say yes.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The film, which screenwriter Rowan Joffé adapted from a 2014 novel of the same name by Lawrence Osborne, seems aware of the orientalist mustiness of this premise without being compelled to subvert it in any meaningful way.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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On an 0-2 pitch, Roberts moved the infield back to double play depth.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
2 Nov. 2025
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The depth chart got even thinner when Jaishawn Barham, who moved back to inside linebacker after playing on the edge in recent weeks, left the game in the first quarter with an injury.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And then the occasional strip club that I was forced to go to.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
3 Nov. 2025
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According to Adams, Koehler forced the woman from her upstairs bedroom down to downstairs, purposely disorienting her — the basis for the kidnapping charge he was also found guilty of.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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South Korea’s remarkable cultural ascendancy has been propelled as much by Korean barbecue and kimchi as by K-pop and K-dramas.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Detectives even allegedly coerced Rosie into signing a document implicating Frank Jordano and his father, Iorlando Jordano.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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This is the real danger for the NBA—players who get coerced into trying to rig games.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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National Guard troops have been staging at Portland training bases for weeks while the legal case plays out, having been activated to protect federal officials and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that has been the focal point of daily protests since June.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The president additionally activated the District of Columbia National Guard in August for law enforcement activities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Fans chanted for Lo LaBonta to come on, and Hayes obliged in the 67th minute, bringing the KC Current captain on for Lily Yohannes.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
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Member nations are collectively obliged to respond to attacks on other alliance nations under Article 5 of the founding treaty.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impelled. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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