PROPELLED Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

propelled

verb

past tense of propel

as in pushed

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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as in drove

to set or keep in motion the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines

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 propelled Andrews’ role as the titular character propelled her to international stardom and earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 Rios envisions a future where America remains a land of opportunity, propelled by the ingenuity and spirit of its next generation. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 When Assad’s regime was toppled roughly 18 months ago, the development propelled the country’s slow return to the world stage. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026 At LaSorted’s, though, Brockert has successfully and authentically corralled America’s greatest regional hot dogs all under one roof, propelled by a love of family-run businesses. — Danny Palumbo, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 Most prominent, and controversial, among these is their backlash against Israel, which has propelled an increasing number of pro-Palestine candidates to nomination, often over long-serving incumbents. — Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 7 July 2026 Tuesday morning’s action follows a winning session on Wall Street that propelled the Dow above the 53,000 mark for the first time. — Justina Lee,alex Harring, CNBC, 6 July 2026 The Amps’ co-captain Nasir Core propelled the 20-point comeback. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026 Mauricio Pochettino says soccer and mystical energy propelled him out of his hometown. — Teo Armus, Washington Post, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled

Verb

Scheduling conflicts when the Dodgers played the Nationals in Washington on April 3-5 pushed back the trip.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Sheriff John Ledbetter has pushed back on suggestions his office is moving too slowly, saying his department shares the family's goal and asking the public for patience, according to ABC News.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Definition of pushed

Verb

In April, in a four-game series against the New York Yankees, Trout hit five home runs and drove in nine runs.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Liberal return policies surged during the pandemic, with free return windows that can extend to as much as six months, as lockdown-weary shoppers drove an e-commerce boom.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

Disorder broke out when large groups of people pushed and shoved their way through lines of fans waiting to get in and charged through security checkpoints and entrances, a law enforcement source told ABC New York station WABC.

— Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 13 July 2026
Many runners appeared unaware when bulls were breathing down their necks and, instead of trying to gore them, just shoved them out of the way.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Definition of shoved

Verb

The tradition was introduced in Cutud in the mid-twentieth century, but was thrust into the spotlight when televised by the media in the 1980s.

— H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2026
Pulisic has never seemed overly comfortable in the role that was thrust upon him, and as his charisma-free walk-on in that Wells Fargo spot suggests, perhaps certain trappings of superstardom will never be a good fit for the AC Milan player.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of thrust

Verb

If activated, battery life will be drastically reduced to only a couple of days because the dog's location will refresh every 10 to 15 seconds.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026
According to the authority, Pakistan’s military and civilian agencies activated the Rescue Coordination Center and launched search-and-rescue operations at sea shortly after the aircraft went missing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026

Definition of activated

Verb

Sometimes the ideological passions that impelled a work into existence dissolve over time, leaving behind something that can be appreciated as art.

— Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 June 2026
That emotional closeness was one of the driving forces that impelled me to bring this project to the screen in an exercise of deep respect for a complex memory that does not lend itself to simplification.

— Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 June 2026

Definition of impelled

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propellants

propelled

propelling

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

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Synonyms of propelled

verb

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