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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of propelling
But as of late, electrolyte beverages, powders, drops and tablets are cropping up everywhere from grocery-store endcaps to podcast ads, propelling a market that has nearly doubled in size since 2020 to hit about $40 billion in 2025.
—
Erica Sloan,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
But Vance credits her with propelling him on his journey back to Christianity, through her openness to exploring the world and challenging received ideas and teachings.
—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
The Allmans carried on, with the post-Duane Brothers and Sisters album propelling them to genuine superstar stature.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
On Friday, shares jumped 20% to $162, propelling Musk into trillionaire status after accounting for his SpaceX options as well as his Tesla shares.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
White has credited the president’s devotion to the sport with propelling it into the mainstream and is predicting a record-breaking global audience.
—
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Black Moon Lilith in Sagittarius opposes the new moon in Gemini, propelling us to revolt against the status quo and insist on autonomy.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
The move marks a historic moment in the AI story, as the biggest players look to capitalise on the animal spirits that keep propelling the markets to record highs.
—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Major attractions of the ride include two high-speed reversing switches that change the boat’s direction twice, propelling riders forward and backward through 2,240 feet of water and down the way to thrilling drops.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
Erica Sloan,
Washington Post,
21 June 2026
But Vance credits her with propelling him on his journey back to Christianity, through her openness to exploring the world and challenging received ideas and teachings.
—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
The Allmans carried on, with the post-Duane Brothers and Sisters album propelling them to genuine superstar stature.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
On Friday, shares jumped 20% to $162, propelling Musk into trillionaire status after accounting for his SpaceX options as well as his Tesla shares.
—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
White has credited the president’s devotion to the sport with propelling it into the mainstream and is predicting a record-breaking global audience.
—
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Black Moon Lilith in Sagittarius opposes the new moon in Gemini, propelling us to revolt against the status quo and insist on autonomy.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
The move marks a historic moment in the AI story, as the biggest players look to capitalise on the animal spirits that keep propelling the markets to record highs.
—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
Major attractions of the ride include two high-speed reversing switches that change the boat’s direction twice, propelling riders forward and backward through 2,240 feet of water and down the way to thrilling drops.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelling
Verb
-
Incumbents have run on the perception that the transplants who have moved into working-class neighborhoods are pushing residents out while imposing their politics on more moderate communities of color.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
-
Late-stage trial results from Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Pelage Pharmaceuticals and Veradermics are now pushing new options toward pharmacy shelves, with one program already pursuing parallel approval in the United States and Europe.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
Verb
-
The woman who was driving the sedan was taken to a local Shock Trauma Center after sustaining serious injuries.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
Not to be overshadowed by the outfielder’s efforts, Cody Morrissette also went 3 for 5, with one home run, as well as driving home Wallner with a two-out single to end the game.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
21 June 2026
Verb
-
Before the parade, a small group of people were crushed against a barrier near Fulton Street, a key subway hub, pinned between a swelling crowd and a group of police officers shoving the barrier.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
-
The attacker wanted for shoving a 63-year-old MTA commuter onto the tracks at a Queens subway stop has been arrested, police said Friday.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Officers can use voice commands, and if those don’t work options include pepper spray, a baton, a TASER or fire extinguisher, though some are more difficult to use on a fast-moving animal, the directive says.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 June 2026
Verb
-
Because the preliminary Iran deal leaves key details unresolved, further negotiations virtually ensure the agreement remains in flux through the election season — potentially thrusting the talks into the center of the presidential primary campaign.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Like the tip of a spear thrusting from the London skyline, The Shard has become an appealing landmark for filmmakers over the years.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Sprinting entails pushing off with your feet and abruptly activating your calf muscles.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
More time is devoted to setting up the dramatic situation than to activating it.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelling. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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