1
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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2
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
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Recent Examples of propelled
California historian Ed Allen sees connections between the Gold Rush era and the state's entrepreneurial culture, which has propelled California into a global powerhouse ‒ the nation's most populous state and the world's fourth-largest economy.
—
Andre Byik, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
For Anract, neobakeries and creative bakers like Muhel, Castel and Kayser are what have always propelled France’s breadmaking culture forward.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
To state the obvious, the fans who have propelled country’s popularity aren’t voters.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
The third movement, Allegro molto e vivace, flies by at exhilarating speed, propelled by tight ensemble playing.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
Newfound interest in the Epstein case has propelled Wolff, 72, to an unlikely degree of social media stardom, as people just tuning in to the yearslong legal saga flock to his frank, straight-to-camera explainer videos.
—Graph Massara, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Shoppers from all over Dallas-Forth Worth ventured to the store and propelled its growth in the following years.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Watching Rome, Shiv, and Ken attempt to battle, scrape, and betray their way into their father’s heart—and, conversely, seeing Logan withhold, meter out, and blaspheme his version of love back at them—propelled Succession through four glorious seasons.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Andre Byik, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
For Anract, neobakeries and creative bakers like Muhel, Castel and Kayser are what have always propelled France’s breadmaking culture forward.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
To state the obvious, the fans who have propelled country’s popularity aren’t voters.
—Melinda Newman, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025
The third movement, Allegro molto e vivace, flies by at exhilarating speed, propelled by tight ensemble playing.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
Newfound interest in the Epstein case has propelled Wolff, 72, to an unlikely degree of social media stardom, as people just tuning in to the yearslong legal saga flock to his frank, straight-to-camera explainer videos.
—Graph Massara, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Shoppers from all over Dallas-Forth Worth ventured to the store and propelled its growth in the following years.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Just as momentum has propelled them to fourth, so a shift could dampen spirits and rein in any talk of a comfortable season.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Watching Rome, Shiv, and Ken attempt to battle, scrape, and betray their way into their father’s heart—and, conversely, seeing Logan withhold, meter out, and blaspheme his version of love back at them—propelled Succession through four glorious seasons.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled
Verb
-
Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 and subsequent need for military support from Germany pushed Italy into a closer alliance with Hitler that, in turn, led to the imposition of anti-Jewish legislation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Offered only via the David’s Bridal site, the archival White by Vera Wang archival collection is being pushed out to shoppers via the retailer’s social media, site and email newsletters among other avenues.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The suspect, who has not been publicly identified, was said to have intentionally drove into bicycle lanes to strike some of the cyclists, said Christophe Sueur, the mayor of Saint-Pierre d'Oleron.—
Tom Soufi Burridge,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Periodically, one or two cars drove up for a box of food, but otherwise, all was quiet.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Jared Leucke said on the 911 call that his father shoved him, causing his knife to fall out of his pocket.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
His memoir told of workhouse guards beating prisoners on the least pretense, and of one guard who regularly shoved prisoners down flights of stairs.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
They are felt as they are composed, painfully, joyously, cellularly—and they are designed for other biological beings to experience, to connect with, to be animated, provoked and moved by.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Led by quarterback Tony Pike, the Bearcats moved quickly down the field, setting up a first down at Pitt’s 29-yard line with 33 seconds left.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fisher thrust his finger into the air and ran off the floor and into the tunnel.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Aggressive opposition to the referendum has once again thrust Missouri into the national spotlight amid a nationwide redistricting frenzy.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Smith was a full participant in the Eagles' last practice, and he was activated off Injured Reserve on Monday afternoon.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
-
During inquiries, the ICO found 178 active email accounts using passwords identical or similar to those set by the organization’s IT desk when the account was activated.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies.—
David Kamp,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
-
While the recent protests were sparked by the social media ban, protesters said that they had been impelled by years of government corruption and failure to provide young people with economic opportunities.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelled. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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