1
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
playfully he propelled his rambunctious friend into the swimming pool to cool off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to drive
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propel
The rolling wheels-of-a-dream metaphor no longer propels the show in this simpler revival from Lear deBessonet; the director makes a conscious effort to eschew the bold statements about America in favor of tightening the focus on the little clutch of individuals whom Doctorow so vividly imagined.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The experience propelled him to go to the Amazon to embark on a month-long program at the Paititi Institute.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The same fan had decidedly less to say not long afterwards, as two Wrexham goals in 99 seconds propelled them into the play-off places for the first time.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
That falls in line with what traders are more widely feeling on Wall Street, where eye-catching earnings from companies ranging from tech to big oil have helped propel markets to near-record highs recently.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
The experience propelled him to go to the Amazon to embark on a month-long program at the Paititi Institute.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The same fan had decidedly less to say not long afterwards, as two Wrexham goals in 99 seconds propelled them into the play-off places for the first time.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
That falls in line with what traders are more widely feeling on Wall Street, where eye-catching earnings from companies ranging from tech to big oil have helped propel markets to near-record highs recently.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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As criticism over competitive disparities intensified following the meet, pro-trans activists pushed back with the familiar argument that inclusion matters more than results, while opponents argued female athletes lose opportunities in the process.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Williams happened to be passing by as the young dancer was pushing her car down the highway with a friend, and Williams along with his manager stopped to help and was quickly charmed.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The work is freelance and deadline-driven, with no salary, benefits, or job security.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Neto drove a 2-0 sinker 413 feet to center field, stunning Ginn and the A’s while ending a six-game losing streak for the Angels.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Replays on Cleveland’s scoreboard showed Thompson grab Merrill by the neck and shove him to the deck.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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The next day she is shipped off to her first job, also within the confines of this impossibly vast building, which involves shoving film canisters down a pneumatic tube.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The campaign now moves forward with voters weighing sharply different visions for California’s future as the primary draws closer.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The Raiders had their worst season since moving to Las Vegas last year.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The painting, surrounded by scaffolding while the church undergoes repairs, is full of thrusting diagonals and shadowy figures, a meditation on both extreme suffering and pointed indifference to it.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
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Nereyda said this year hasn’t been as bad as a year ago when Hernandez was first thrust into a national anti-trans backlash.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
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That foundation meant that when the mainstream moment arrived, there was already a real community ready to activate and amplify it.—
Olivia Shalhoup,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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