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

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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 With a new Swiss manufacture in the works and Vanguart’s first decade on the horizon, there is a definite sense that the house is tapping into an irresistible horological energy, propelled forward by a passionate customer base. — Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026 The Guardians have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after Petey Halpin’s two-run homer propelled them to a 3-2 victory in Game 3 on Thursday afternoon. — Joe Reedy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Few wins get better than that one and propelled Texas to the top. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 After a grueling couple of days for tech stocks—propelled by drama and speculation around CoreWeave’s debt—traders bought the dip in the last 24 hours and stocks rose globally. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 The slew of favorable developments has propelled shares up about 8% this week, including Friday's more than 1% gain. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 The launch, propelled out by a Falcon 9 rocket, was carrying the Cargo Dragon spacecraft. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026 Her album spent 11 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and, for the first time, propelled the artist to Number One on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026 Keaton Wagler, whose sensational freshman season propelled Illinois to its first Final Four in 21 years, is preparing for the NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled

Verb

The organization built a political presence in Texas with lobbying and legislative testimony as the state pushed back on transgender ideology in recent years.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
If elected, the younger Bolsonaro, who comports himself as a more moderate version of his father, has been clear on his plans not only to secure his father’s freedom but to punish the top figures in the judiciary who pushed for his prosecution.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of pushed

Verb

The homeowner didn’t charge him rent, and the truck Buchanan drove was a gift, the woman told agents.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
An Australian data center operator’s profit warning drove its stock down as much as 44%, while dozens of large facilities have been blocked or delayed in the US this year by opposition from locals.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

The banquet hall was total chaos, packed with people who shoved their way toward the front, trying to bribe the hostess for a table with red envelopes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Although some Alabama fans reacted to the loss and officiating by throwing water bottles on the field, one spectator came down from his seat and got in the face of and shoved Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of shoved

Verb

Deloitte found only 25% of organizations have moved 40% or more of their AI pilots into production.

— Chris Koehler, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Trees fell onto homes and utility poles were knocked down by a possible tornado in a central Arizona community during a series of violent storms that moved through the state overnight into Thursday.

— Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Ohio Ohio's governor's race was thrust into the national spotlight this week after Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign released an ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democrat opponent Amy Acton.

— Chantelle Lee, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Russell adds a 30 Rock–esque backstage frame in which an assistant stage manager (Twiggy, looking divine) is thrust into the spotlight when the star of her regional playhouse’s production of The Boy Friend is nowhere to be found.

— Juan A. Ramírez, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrust

Verb

Two letters redirect actions MuTRAP is a backdoor attack, also known as a Trojan attack, in which malicious behavior is embedded in a model and activated only when a specific trigger appears.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Officers then activated their emergency lights and pulled over Licona Amador's truck, prosecutors said.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of activated

Verb

Some fifteen years later, her determination to study Schubert lieder with expert teachers was in large part what impelled her to go to Europe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Despite the challenges, many candidates are impelled by the desire to steer political discourse toward civility and issues that matter most to ordinary citizens.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 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 23 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of propelled

verb

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