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
As a result, OEMs and Tier 1s have begun leveraging Qualcomm technology across all automotive platforms, not just future AV platforms, consequently propelling growth for Qualcomm beyond many of its competitors.
—
Jim McGregor, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Porro has been entrusted with propelling the world’s biggest high-end design trade show into the modern age during a challenging period, and exporting the fair to new global markets like Saudi Arabia.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
These stellar fireworks generated extraordinarily powerful galactic winds, first detected in 2019, spanning a whopping 326,200 light-years, propelling gas and dust outward into the galaxy's vast halo of hot gas, known as the circumgalactic medium, or CGM.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The skimmer’s dual motors provide a respectable 2,061 gallons per hour (GPH) suction rate while propelling the V5 around the pool.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
However, the rapid evolutionary behavior isn’t a unique process separate from natural selection, as Eldredge and Gould suggested, but rather the result of periods of extremely rapid adaptation propelling evolutionary change.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
This change necessitated further societal organization, propelling the advancement of their civilization.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2025
Saniya Rivers led all Sun scorers with 17 off the bench, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 15 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, propelling the Sun to a solid road victory.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Possibly at the dawn of Homo, our ancestors crossed a point at which cultural evolution became the driving force, propelling genetic evolution toward what would ultimately become us.
—Madeleine Beekman
august 11, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2025
Jim McGregor, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Porro has been entrusted with propelling the world’s biggest high-end design trade show into the modern age during a challenging period, and exporting the fair to new global markets like Saudi Arabia.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
These stellar fireworks generated extraordinarily powerful galactic winds, first detected in 2019, spanning a whopping 326,200 light-years, propelling gas and dust outward into the galaxy's vast halo of hot gas, known as the circumgalactic medium, or CGM.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
The skimmer’s dual motors provide a respectable 2,061 gallons per hour (GPH) suction rate while propelling the V5 around the pool.
—PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
However, the rapid evolutionary behavior isn’t a unique process separate from natural selection, as Eldredge and Gould suggested, but rather the result of periods of extremely rapid adaptation propelling evolutionary change.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
This change necessitated further societal organization, propelling the advancement of their civilization.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2025
Saniya Rivers led all Sun scorers with 17 off the bench, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 15 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, propelling the Sun to a solid road victory.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Possibly at the dawn of Homo, our ancestors crossed a point at which cultural evolution became the driving force, propelling genetic evolution toward what would ultimately become us.
—Madeleine Beekman
august 11, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelling
Verb
-
Her comments come as Democrats face a leadership crossroads in Washington, with long-serving figures under scrutiny and younger candidates pushing for change.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The Angels made a late change to their rotation, pushing all of the pitchers back a day and having right-hander José Ureña start Wednesday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Avoid using phones or other distracting behaviors while driving in a work zone.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sanders was engaged with Davidson for a few yards, pushing and shoving each other.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Julia hears someone coming, and Ellen begs Brian to meet her at the festival in Inverness before shoving him into the woods.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Woolen was running stride-for-stride with Pearsall but misplayed the ball and slowed down while the second-year wideout kept moving forward.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Cavitation, on the other hand, provides a high-energy, controllable launch system that doesn’t require onboard power or moving parts.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But then a ruling dropped in Utah, thrusting the Beehive State into the redistricting battle erupting around the country.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The Red Sox are making a big bet that Tolle is ready for primetime, thrusting the rookie into the heat of a pennant race at a time where every game matters.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That’s why activating existing natural strengths not only boosts the leader’s self-confidence but also instills trust in the team.—
Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
For example, one brain imaging study found that activating opioid receptors in the hypothalamus (often called the control coordinating center of the brain) partially helped with resetting the body’s internal temperature for postmenopausal women.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelling. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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