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
In addition to the Regans, the Skippers were propelled by Greer, as well as Maddie and Molly Campbell, each of whom finished with identical stat lines (two goals, assist apiece).
—
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Dozens of wave riders, bodyboarders and surfers attempted the steep, shallow drop as the peaks formed, some propelling down the building-size waves with expertise, others wiping out to the gasp of spectators who got a front-row seat on the sand to the carnage.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 June 2026
The stacks of wood were propelled onto both sides of the highway, including four vehicles that were being driven on I-95 South, including a Jeep Compass driven by 39-year-old Nicholas Kupec of Waterford, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
Major attractions of the ride include two high-speed reversing switches that change the boat’s direction twice, propelling riders forward and backward through 2,240 feet of water and down the way to thrilling drops.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
Dozens of wave riders, bodyboarders and surfers attempted the steep, shallow drop as the peaks formed, some propelling down the building-size waves with expertise, others wiping out to the gasp of spectators who got a front-row seat on the sand to the carnage.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 June 2026
The stacks of wood were propelled onto both sides of the highway, including four vehicles that were being driven on I-95 South, including a Jeep Compass driven by 39-year-old Nicholas Kupec of Waterford, state police said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026
Major attractions of the ride include two high-speed reversing switches that change the boat’s direction twice, propelling riders forward and backward through 2,240 feet of water and down the way to thrilling drops.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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The actress started advocating for menopause and mid-life care in 2024 − after her doctor misdiagnosed her symptoms as herpes − and pushed for legislation to fund research and education in women’s health.—
Wendy Naugle,
USA Today,
5 June 2026
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The visit is a chance for Xi to push for a rebalancing of these ties and to signal the importance of the relationship to Beijing at a moment of global flux.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Ties have cooled in recent years between the two sides – while Pyongyang drove closer to Moscow.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
Verb
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When the song was over, the singer abruptly turned around to shove and flip the piano, which crashed on stage and broke apart.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
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That said, don't simply shove everything against the walls to avoid these issues.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
Verb
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That stands in contrast to the Nasdaq, which has already moved to fast-track SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index, leading to concerns that new retail investors could become the cash cow of exit liquidity for legacy SpaceX shareholders.—
Katie Foley,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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In the production, directed by Jo Bonney, Susanna arrives there before realizing what has happened, a scene change that moves briskly enough to surprise you in the audience too.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The bullet penetrated his hip, thrust through his knee and shattered his femur.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2026
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Kim was one shot behind Kupcho after the opening round, and she was thrust into the lead early in the second despite shooting 1 over on the front nine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 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,
8 June 2026
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Even 15 minutes of disconnection allows the brain’s default mode network to activate, when memory consolidation and creative connections actually occur.—
William Jones
June 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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