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
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Recent Examples of propelling
Cam Skinner scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, propelling Blue Hills to a 52-30 Mayflower Athletic Conference win over Westport.
—
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Nvidia has become the poster child for the AI boom, with the pervasiveness of its AI chips and platforms propelling it to briefly become the world’s first $5 trillion company last year.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
The series' final season hasn't been loved by all fans, with some arguing the story isn't propelling forward.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
In the past, this annual playlist supplied a loop of sonic pleasure, propelling me through workouts, dinner preps, and hours-long commutes.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
The truck veered into the oncoming traffic and hit a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, propelling the car into the wall of an Aldi grocery store.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
In this stunning four-episode miniseries, interconnectedness is the keyword as each chapter beautifully outlines how every living being — whether animal or plant — serves a purpose beyond its own survival by helping and propelling one another.
—Tomris Laffly, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Dreamy Neptune re-enters Aries on January 26, propelling us to start over and be the best versions of ourselves.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
The spirit of Jacobson’s sentiments continued throughout the ceremony, which was hosted by comedian and actress Lynne Koplitz and sought to honor the people and products propelling the beauty industry forward.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
Nvidia has become the poster child for the AI boom, with the pervasiveness of its AI chips and platforms propelling it to briefly become the world’s first $5 trillion company last year.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
The series' final season hasn't been loved by all fans, with some arguing the story isn't propelling forward.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
In the past, this annual playlist supplied a loop of sonic pleasure, propelling me through workouts, dinner preps, and hours-long commutes.
—Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025
The truck veered into the oncoming traffic and hit a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, propelling the car into the wall of an Aldi grocery store.
—Joe Brandt, CBS News, 27 Dec. 2025
In this stunning four-episode miniseries, interconnectedness is the keyword as each chapter beautifully outlines how every living being — whether animal or plant — serves a purpose beyond its own survival by helping and propelling one another.
—Tomris Laffly, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025
Dreamy Neptune re-enters Aries on January 26, propelling us to start over and be the best versions of ourselves.
—Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
The spirit of Jacobson’s sentiments continued throughout the ceremony, which was hosted by comedian and actress Lynne Koplitz and sought to honor the people and products propelling the beauty industry forward.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelling
Verb
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In early 2026, the car brands leading in advanced AI are primarily split between those pushing the boundaries of full autonomous driving like Tesla, and those integrating sophisticated, safe and intuitive AI into the user experience like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Lawmakers were pushing a measure, similar to those enacted in Australia and Canada, that would have forced tech giants to pay online publishers for the ransacking, er, use, of their journalistic content.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Weather Service warns that poor visibility and slick roads could make driving a bad idea.—
Caroline Silva,
AJC.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Sombr’s rendition strips the track back emotionally while reshaping it sonically, layering distorted vocals and a driving indie-rock pulse over the song’s core melody.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One video with a clear view of the encounter shows an officer shoving a person near Pretti.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
25 Jan. 2026
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Pretti comes in again when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some folks who were moving a little slow, some folks wanted to dilute the Canadiana or the Big C Canadian of it.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Karlee Smith jumped on a quad bike to help herd sheep away from the fast-moving flames on a farm in the town of Gellibrand, a small rural town, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Melbourne.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Clearly looking to shock, Raimi depicts bodily injury in oozing detail, whether that means thrusting the camera into Bradley’s festering leg wound or watching one of the pair plunge their thumb into the eye socket of the other.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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After shutting down internet and mobile international communications on January 8, thrusting the country into digital darkness, the government carried out a massacre unprecedented even in the regime’s own violent history.—
Omid Memarian,
The Atlantic,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The spring brings a defining moment as Mars (celestial ruler of your career sector) conjuncts Saturn in Aries (April 10), activating your third house of communication and strategy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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This new model deeply celebrates the amazing artists of our region while activating our full theatre complex, and inviting audiences to engage with new stories in meaningful ways together.—
Kirby Adams,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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