impelling 1 of 2

adjective

as in compelling

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impelling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of impel
1
as in driving
to set or keep in motion gasoline impels a car's engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure I felt impelled to tell the truth, however painful it might be

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 impelling
Verb
This is a very forward-impelling perspective to come to. — Elizabeth Mata, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impelling
  1. compelling
  2. driving
  3. forcing
  4. conspicuous
  5. moving
  6. coercing
  7. striking
  8. activating
Adjective
  • True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
Definition of compelling
Verb
  • Rodríguez Castro can be seen wearing a New York Yankees shirt, moving suggestively to driving percussive beats, punctuated by catchy, syncopated vocals.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 July 2026
Definition of driving
Verb
  • From here, the Manchester City defender sprints into the six-yard box to meet the corner, forcing a good save from Dominik Livakovic, with his team-mates unable to scramble the ball over the line.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, raging forest fires and a red-alert heat wave are shaking up France’s biggest national holiday, forcing the cancellation of traditional fireworks and firefighters’ balls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of forcing
Adjective
  • There was also a cohort of local vignerons, whose understated practicality was a welcome juxtaposition to the occasionally conspicuous wealth of the international collector crowd.
    — George Nelson for ArtNews, Robb Report, 9 July 2026
  • The hot water temperature at one of the hand sinks was too low, some meat in the refrigerator was stored without date markings and the restaurant’s permit wasn’t posted in a conspicuous place.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
Definition of conspicuous
Verb
  • Still, as the game wore on to the waning moments, both teams were visibly sapped of energy and moving at a slower pace, including Haaland, who faded late in the game, was subbed out at the 105-minute mark and replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • If you are trapped by moving water, move to the highest possible point and call 911 if possible.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 July 2026
Definition of moving
Verb
  • Travis Reed, who was a fire captain with the now-defunct Briar Volunteer Fire Department, admitted to coercing a minor into producing child pornography in September, according to a summary of facts in the case.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
  • The Justice Against Weaponized Bureaucratic Overreach to Networked Expression Act would prohibit federal agencies and employees from coercing or trying to coerce broadcasters and providers of online services or AI services into changing content.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026
Definition of coercing
Adjective
  • The house was in a striking location, perched on a bluff in Baiting Hollow overlooking Long Island Sound.
    — Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 11 July 2026
  • But while Erling Haaland and his band of striking Vikings have taken the 2026 World Cup by storm, Norwegian sports officials have been wringing their hands about the future of the nation’s sports model.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of striking
Verb
  • And speaking of fares, while activating the rear door OMNY readers will provide for somewhat faster boarding, the MTA made a big mistake in getting rid of the off-board fare payments that were used for Select Bus Service.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
  • By activating these receptors, the peptide can increase melanin production and thus make skin look more tan.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 July 2026
Definition of activating

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Cite this Entry

“Impelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impelling. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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