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
Buchanan’s boys’ strength in the lower weights propelled the Bears to a 40-point lead while Poway struggled.
—
Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The album’s dispatches from her secluded life style are propelled by the question of who is doing the looking and what that looking reveals about the experience of an other.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
The 2013 play, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won five (including for best play) digs into the three brothers who founded the company and how they were propelled by the American Dream, only to eventually trigger what came close to being the destruction of the global economic order.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Resolving Differences Challenging reticence has propelled the firm in a modern era.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
Iran’s college students have frequently propelled anti-government protests.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
That spot propelled him to the top of Denver’s late-night scene.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Shooting, savvy and determined defense has propelled Lake Highland to the best record in school history.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The creation of its Cendrillon ballerina flat, specifically designed for Brigitte Bardot's role in the 1956 film, Et Dieu… créa la femme, propelled Repetto into mainstream fashion.
—Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The album’s dispatches from her secluded life style are propelled by the question of who is doing the looking and what that looking reveals about the experience of an other.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
The 2013 play, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won five (including for best play) digs into the three brothers who founded the company and how they were propelled by the American Dream, only to eventually trigger what came close to being the destruction of the global economic order.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
Resolving Differences Challenging reticence has propelled the firm in a modern era.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026
Iran’s college students have frequently propelled anti-government protests.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
That spot propelled him to the top of Denver’s late-night scene.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Shooting, savvy and determined defense has propelled Lake Highland to the best record in school history.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The creation of its Cendrillon ballerina flat, specifically designed for Brigitte Bardot's role in the 1956 film, Et Dieu… créa la femme, propelled Repetto into mainstream fashion.
—Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled
Verb
-
Straight-line winds form when cold air in a thunderstorm sinks to the Earth’s surface and is pushed outward.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Then the Jayhawks pushed their advantage to double figures and rode out the win.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors said Maurer, of Coalinga in Fresno County, deliberately drove his pickup truck into the children and adults.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Police are investigating a dramatic crash Tuesday where an SUV drove onto the sidewalk and barrelled into a vendor in downtown Los Angeles’ flower district, injuring six people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Onosato swiftly and unceremoniously shoved Kotozakura from the ring, the crowd roared.—
Joshua Hunt,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The officers, growing visibly frustrated, shoved at least two people to the ground as snowballs continued to whizz by.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While the win at Everton moved the team up into the top four, victory in United’s final match of February last season only moved them up to 14th in the Premier League table.—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Fellow passengers were moved and amazed to witness a former president stuck in typical airport delays alongside them.—
Meg Kinnard,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Before they were thrust into the spotlight, the Spencers were just another young family in Lonoke County, where Spencer’s wife, Heather, is from.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
With Swayman out, that meant Michael DiPietro was thrust into action.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fifield’s squad car was positioned on the right shoulder/emergency lane of eastbound I-80 with its emergency lights activated.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Getting Ayton activated has been a positive for the Lakers.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both were impelled to launch ninth-inning pushes to persuade Oscar voters that Shakespeare wasn’t really in love and Private Ryan needed serious saving.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Propelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelled. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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