1
as in pushes
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 drives
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 propels
Thematic ambition, a sense of the something to be expressed beyond a central romance, rivalry, or farce, propels modern musical hits too, as in Hairspray, or Wicked, or (no duh) Hamilton.
—
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Normally, this turns the C ring counterclockwise (like the opposite turning of interlocking gears), which propels the swimming cell forward.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Their unexpected connection propels them on a road trip to San Francisco… As the landscapes shift from the bustling city to serene coastal towns, their relationship deepens, revealing vulnerabilities, regrets and dreams.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Beijing is also advancing railgun technology, a type of electromagnetic weapon that propels projectiles along a pair of parallel rails at extreme speeds, while promising higher velocity and longer range than conventional guns, potentially transforming naval and land-based combat.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
In astrology, the sun represents our vitality, identity and the force that propels us forward in life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, the panels that protect the Orion service module that fuels and propels the vehicle in space will similarly be jettisoned.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
To perform forward motion, the two rear rotors increase speed while the front rotors simultaneously reduce speed, creating an imbalance that tilts the drone and propels it forward.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Normally, this turns the C ring counterclockwise (like the opposite turning of interlocking gears), which propels the swimming cell forward.
—Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Their unexpected connection propels them on a road trip to San Francisco… As the landscapes shift from the bustling city to serene coastal towns, their relationship deepens, revealing vulnerabilities, regrets and dreams.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Grief lives most vibrantly in the periods where your life stretches and bends, the loss constant while life propels forward.
—Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
Beijing is also advancing railgun technology, a type of electromagnetic weapon that propels projectiles along a pair of parallel rails at extreme speeds, while promising higher velocity and longer range than conventional guns, potentially transforming naval and land-based combat.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
In astrology, the sun represents our vitality, identity and the force that propels us forward in life.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
Then, the panels that protect the Orion service module that fuels and propels the vehicle in space will similarly be jettisoned.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
To perform forward motion, the two rear rotors increase speed while the front rotors simultaneously reduce speed, creating an imbalance that tilts the drone and propels it forward.
—Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels
Verb
-
The overnight storms were part of a broader severe weather outbreak that is expected to continue April 28 as the system pushes farther east and new storms develop to the south.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Castle Rock’s internal guidance pushes the story toward testing, consultations, and monitoring while pulling it away from hard claims about outcomes.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That drives pocket-protector wearing water engineers a little crazy, because steady outcomes are what these men and women live for.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers rallied Thursday at its computer chip complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, demanding higher bonuses and threatening to strike as booming demand for artificial intelligence drives up memory-chip profits.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Back in the family’s house, the walking corpse shoves a boy onto the dishwasher, impaling him full of cutlery.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
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Frances shoves June at Boy Carteret.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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As the Moon moves through your 9th House of Learning, conversations shape direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Dreaming big is par for the course when Mercury activates Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And so, our mission – grounded in both truth and love – impels us to discern the motives that shape events, and the shifts in thought that drive human progress through higher ideals of justice, mercy, and wisdom.—
Christa Case Bryant,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propels. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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