PROPELS Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

propels

verb

present tense third-person singular of propel

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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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of propels The director, Sanchez, deftly leads the effort with invisible but subtly effective staging, ensuring that the family banter propels the flow. — Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 As Taiwan races toward the new millennium, its hunger for progress propels the boy forward, Yen says, while the uncle never gets that option. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 In any traditional chase scene, a clear understanding of hero and villain propels the action forward. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 Garcia’s comes from standing up straight in his orthodox stance but is driven by his back leg, which propels him forward. — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The shoe has a rocker forefoot that propels you forward and keeps you feeling fast and light. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2026 The main thing that propels Jordan Brand’s retro business is the unique look of its classic sneakers, many of which introduced industry-first designs. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 This is partly what propels his mole demi-glace, a convergence of inspirations realized in a duck and smoked chicken stock sharpened by the foundational components of mole. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 More importantly, part of what propels the narrative in the book is Bret being the only one of his friends to see a dark side to Robert. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels

Verb

Steve Earle has a minor role as another Tulsa-area journalist who pushes back on some of Lee’s assumptions of what constitutes good work.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Even as his Instagram following pushes 500,000 with another 318,000 more on TikTok.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of pushes

Verb

The ability for employees to find the best opportunities for themselves and for employers to find the best candidates for the job help to drive innovation, which drives productivity, which drives growth, Richardson has said.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Oscar drives her home and, paralyzed by the situation, leaves her unconscious at her family’s door.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of drives

Verb

Such plaudits raise the question of how Movistar Plus moves forward from here.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
The mountains east to Hickory could see an average 3 or 4 inches of rain before the system moves from the region by Sunday afternoon, NWS meteorologist Chris Horne told The Charlotte Observer.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of moves

Verb

The agency rejected the recommendation, saying that using cameras that automatically activate when an officer pulls their weapon or activates a car siren could risk privacy concerns.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
And a few are very highly specific, such as the protease that activates insulin, which only cuts near a very specific series of amino acids.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of activates

Verb

Walking through it, which the work impels one to do, shows that the six sections of Shift afford a sequence of passages down into and across the terrain.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
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