1
as in pushing
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 driving
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propelling
China has emerged as a critical force propelling gold prices to record highs in 2025, according to one of the most influential analysts on Wall Street.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
In the video, Noel can be seen propelling herself up the steps on her back legs and making the jump onto the couch where her small dog bed was positioned.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Government investment into cultural initiatives, especially in Saudi Arabia, which is in the throes of its economic diversification plan, Vision 2030, is also propelling new talents onto the international scene.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
Abby Nash sniped a pair of goals, propelling Whitman-Hanson (5-8-1) during a 2-0 victory over Patriot League rival Pembroke.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
SpaceX teases a return to eye-catching booster landings After using most of its fuel and propelling Starship toward space, the Super Heavy on Monday safely broke away from the upper Starship spacecraft and veered back toward Earth.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Why did economic growth continue propelling upward after that point?
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
According to Kyle Sweeney, Rag & Bone’s SVP of men’s design and merchandising, Infuse builds on the brand’s heritage while propelling it into the future.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Strong Santa Ana winds, which have long been a staple in the region, reached hurricane strength, further propelling the flames.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
In the video, Noel can be seen propelling herself up the steps on her back legs and making the jump onto the couch where her small dog bed was positioned.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Government investment into cultural initiatives, especially in Saudi Arabia, which is in the throes of its economic diversification plan, Vision 2030, is also propelling new talents onto the international scene.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
Abby Nash sniped a pair of goals, propelling Whitman-Hanson (5-8-1) during a 2-0 victory over Patriot League rival Pembroke.
—Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
SpaceX teases a return to eye-catching booster landings After using most of its fuel and propelling Starship toward space, the Super Heavy on Monday safely broke away from the upper Starship spacecraft and veered back toward Earth.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Why did economic growth continue propelling upward after that point?
—NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
According to Kyle Sweeney, Rag & Bone’s SVP of men’s design and merchandising, Infuse builds on the brand’s heritage while propelling it into the future.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Strong Santa Ana winds, which have long been a staple in the region, reached hurricane strength, further propelling the flames.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelling
Verb
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Rice arrived in the summer of 2023 as a multifaceted midfielder who spent most of his first six months at Arsenal playing as a No 6, before pushing up into a more box-to-box role in the second half of 2023-24.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and the richest person on the planet, has single-handedly been one of most influential leaders in pushing for 21st-century space accessibility.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bruce Owens, 49, of Paragould, who was driving the Hyundai, and a minor who was riding in the Jeep and not identified in the report were injured, the report says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Oct. 2025
-
After the video spread on social media, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a post on X that the arrest came as US Border Patrol was driving around conducting immigration enforcement.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That was Wilson, the genial leather-breeches maker, shoving a soldier to his knees.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
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The divorce filing describes Hill shoving Vaccaro and throwing her computer in the presence of their daughter and Vaccaro’s mother.—
Rebecca Tauber,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Also on Sunday, Sturm scratched second line center Casey Mittelstadt, moving Pavel Zacha to center and re-inserting Khusnutdinov back into the lineup and onto the second line.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
-
That said, there was energy for the gap scheme to be the default moving forward.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Head coach Sean McVay certainly acted like it, thrusting his fists through the air in triumph as Verse skipped down the field, howling at the sparsely populated crowd at M&T Bank Stadium.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
12 Oct. 2025
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The Rockets believe Thompson still has tremendous potential that has yet to be unlocked, and the hope is that thrusting him into the starting point guard role will push him to reach new heights.—
William Guillory,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In response, Microsoft notes the company is adding further restrictions to activating IE Mode in Edge for non-commercial users.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 Oct. 2025
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Then comes Pluto, freshly direct in Aquarius, activating your friendship and community sector.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelling. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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