1
as in drives
to set or keep in motion
gasoline impels a car's engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compels
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impels
Verb
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There’s a two-story vaulted window with a view of the hillside, a keyboard, a sofa, crates for when Fleming drives up with his three rescue dogs (Daysy, Erik, and Luchie, two pit mixes and a miniature poodle), and a vintage Mork & Mindy poster on the wall.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026 -
That silver spot price is what drives the baseline value of silver coins.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The sheer richness of the fashion, meanwhile, compels viewers to step up closely to admire the artistry of the stitches and richness of the embroideries, and that’s precisely the point, because ultimately this is a celebration of the art of Italian handcraft.—
Laurie Brookins,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Feb. 2026
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The bill compels public universities and local governments, including schools, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The victory also moves the Horned Frogs closer to a regular season Big 12 title as TCU sits a full game ahead of West Virginia (22-6, 12-4) and Baylor (23-6, 12-4) in the league standings with just two games remaining.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Feb. 2026
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Maybe when the sun moves, the players will accept a cap.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a heartbreaking end to season 2, Peter forces Rose to promise to stay away from him for her own safety.—
Ashley Boucher,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
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Lawmakers have reintroduced the Credit Card Competition Act, which forces issuers to put two unaffiliated networks on each card, allowing merchants to pick the cheaper one at the point of sale.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Scientists have discovered that a soft, loving caress activates specific nerve fibers that light up parts of the brain associated with emotion, not just sensation.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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Crushing or chopping garlic activates allicin, its key compound, and fresh ginger provides gingerol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
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Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In a way, the relationship between Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Bucky (his sidekick) propels the entire MCU.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
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The victory propels him inside the top 25.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In prior administrations, including during my time in the Obama administration, such leverage ran into statutory guardrails under the Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the United States to provide Taiwan defensive capabilities.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Orange County’s agreement with ICE only obligates the county to detain up to 114 people, but the county was housing, on average, 140 inmates a day in January and last week, the count hit 182.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Impels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impels. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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