IMPELLING Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

impelling 1 of 2

adjective

as in compelling

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impelling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of impel

as in driving

to set or keep in motion gasoline impels a car's engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in forcing

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

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

Adjective

Fortunately, if no less terribly, there is more to the story, and many of the most compelling scenes have little or nothing to do with Michael.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
And it's brought to our audience a wide range of compelling stories – from personal narratives to sound-rich explorations of places and events to hard-hitting journalism on issues and topics that are important to students.

— Janet W. Lee, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of compelling

Verb

Assigning officers to walk in community beat patrols instead of driving around in cars.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Health workers are receiving the Ervebo shot, a vaccine effective against a different Ebola strain than the Bundibugyo virus, which is driving this outbreak and has no licensed vaccine or treatment.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of driving

Verb

The Houthis descended from their stronghold in northern Yemen, taking over the capital of Sanaa in September 2014 and forcing the country's government into exile in Saudi Arabia.

— Tucker Reals, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Despite a loss to Arlington Bowie, Arlington Lamar proved itself as a top competition, forcing the Volunteers into overtime.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of forcing

Verb

Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo underwrote the buyout debt package, one of the biggest ever and with many moving pieces, to fund the takeover.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026
This is just one season, but Guerrero’s outlook needs to change just as much as his production moving forward on the remaining 13 years of his deal.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of moving

Verb

Playing that cat, a work camp warden coercing Hawke’s character into smuggling gold through the wilderness, is none other than Russell Crowe.

— Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
But in the past, these efforts were largely aimed at threatening or coercing Washington to act in their favor.

— Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of coercing

Adjective

Given just how striking Paulson’s dress was, the actress opted to keep her accessories mostly minimal, save for a pair of dangling Swedish grace earrings courtesy of Engelbert.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
The title is written in glittering gold letters over the striking shot of Swift.

— Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of striking

Verb

There's also an AI voice assistant for activating in-car features, and a mobile app for remote air conditioning management, charging status monitoring, and automatic parking.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
Hawaii officials told residents to put together emergency kits and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members.

— MEGAN JANETSKY, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of activating

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Style

“Impelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impelling. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of impelling

adjective

verb

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