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
The success of Upbit has propelled Dunamu’s cofounders Song Chi-hyung and Kim Hyoung-nyon into the world’s billionaire ranks.
—
Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The magic brew that propelled rock-n-roll's first stars.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The war has sparked soaring energy costs and the latest inflation report was the highest in three years, propelled by surging gasoline prices.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Chip stocks dropped on Tuesday, pulling back from a massive rally that broadened the artificial intelligence trade beyond Nvidia and propelled the sector to new highs.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Well, there’s a ton of music still on the table to be used, dramatized, and propelled back onto the streaming charts.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
The experience propelled him to go to the Amazon to embark on a month-long program at the Paititi Institute.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The same fan had decidedly less to say not long afterwards, as two Wrexham goals in 99 seconds propelled them into the play-off places for the first time.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
That swing propelled the Rockies to a 6-2 win over the Mets on Thursday at Coors Field, avoiding a sweep and snapping a six-game losing streak.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 May 2026
Zinnia Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The magic brew that propelled rock-n-roll's first stars.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The war has sparked soaring energy costs and the latest inflation report was the highest in three years, propelled by surging gasoline prices.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Chip stocks dropped on Tuesday, pulling back from a massive rally that broadened the artificial intelligence trade beyond Nvidia and propelled the sector to new highs.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 12 May 2026
Well, there’s a ton of music still on the table to be used, dramatized, and propelled back onto the streaming charts.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
The experience propelled him to go to the Amazon to embark on a month-long program at the Paititi Institute.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The same fan had decidedly less to say not long afterwards, as two Wrexham goals in 99 seconds propelled them into the play-off places for the first time.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 11 May 2026
That swing propelled the Rockies to a 6-2 win over the Mets on Thursday at Coors Field, avoiding a sweep and snapping a six-game losing streak.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled
Verb
-
One of the activities that received the most enjoyment from viewers was when the girls pushed themselves on the swing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Defense attorney Curtis Rogers pushed back against that claim, arguing in his opening statement that other school staffers, including Zwerner, could have acted.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Rowles, meanwhile, contributed a sharp single that drove in a run during an eight-run first inning.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The Union pushed up the pitch quickly to find an unmarked Bender, who drove a low shot past the outstretched fingers of Maxime Crépeau to level the match at 3-3 in the 79th minute, setting the stage for Ojeda’s last-minute winner.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The enforcer handcuffed me and shoved me into the same car, again forcing my head between my knees.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
-
Turner snaked through the gauntlet, as his teammates playfully slapped and shoved him around.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
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After staff members broke up the altercation for a second time, several individuals, including Hayes and two of her daughters, were moved to a grassy area beside the school building, according to the affidavit.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
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Fugaz moved to this location early last year—the former spot was, though somewhat unbelievable, even smaller.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The painting, surrounded by scaffolding while the church undergoes repairs, is full of thrusting diagonals and shadowy figures, a meditation on both extreme suffering and pointed indifference to it.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
Nereyda said this year hasn’t been as bad as a year ago when Hernandez was first thrust into a national anti-trans backlash.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Preliminary findings from the train's black box showed the emergency braking system was activated only about 100 meters, or roughly 330 feet, before impact, which was not enough distance to stop the train in time, according to Thai PBS, as cited by the outlet.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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The California Highway Patrol never issued an Amber Alert because Lee’s vehicle had already crossed into Mexico before the alert could be activated; an Endangered Missing Advisory was issued instead on July 11.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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 20 May. 2026.
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