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
Energy propels the film forward a bit more than the plot when the exact reasons why Nick feels compelled to spare Mike have to remain shrouded in mystery.
—
Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Coach Wes Miller hopes this previous momentum propels his team into the NCAA Tournament.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
The good opinion of your boss or colleagues propels you into a new career opportunity.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
These work by reflecting light from their surface, creating a small force that propels the craft forward.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
In a way, the relationship between Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Bucky (his sidekick) propels the entire MCU.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s dominant free skate propels the United States to its second consecutive team figure skating gold at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026
Coach Wes Miller hopes this previous momentum propels his team into the NCAA Tournament.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
The good opinion of your boss or colleagues propels you into a new career opportunity.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
These work by reflecting light from their surface, creating a small force that propels the craft forward.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
In a way, the relationship between Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Bucky (his sidekick) propels the entire MCU.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s dominant free skate propels the United States to its second consecutive team figure skating gold at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels
Verb
-
Those RMDs don’t care whether the market is down or whether pulling money pushes you into a higher bracket.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That pressure pushes down on the air underneath it, compressing and heating it.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives to the paint against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at American Airlines Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Dallas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In our communities, and even in our families, tribalism drives us not merely to disagree with but to despise one another.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But for a mine, all that needs to happen is a vessel pulls up, shoves one overboard, and moves on.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Levi shoves someone just out of the frame, demands to know who threw stones, and later fires a shot, seemingly away from the crowd.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
-
After that, the Moon moves from AQUARIUS into PISCES.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The moody Moon activates your 3rd House of Chatter while squaring radical Uranus in your 6th House of Sensibility, prompting updates in accordance with shifting timelines.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Leaning forward demands strength and stability in your core and lower back, while a rowing motion activates your shoulder, arm, and upper back muscles.—
Jenessa Connor,
Health,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propels. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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