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
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
This refers to missiles with at least two rocket engines, one allowing the missile to reach space, and the other propels it to its target, at a range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles).
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
The novel’s intimacy serves as an emotional call to the reader and propels the story as much as the goings-on do.
—Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
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
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Etiido Uko
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
This refers to missiles with at least two rocket engines, one allowing the missile to reach space, and the other propels it to its target, at a range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles).
—Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2026
The novel’s intimacy serves as an emotional call to the reader and propels the story as much as the goings-on do.
—Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
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
The victory propels him inside the top 25.
—CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels
Verb
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That leaves a sicker, older, more expensive pool of enrollees, which pushes up premiums for everyone.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Our standards, our accountability and the way the group pushes each other every day, that is what has sustained our performance independent of who the head coach is.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The social experience of living in Margaritaville, focused around the central activity space, drives much of the interest.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Lower compensation drives workers away, reduces availability and increases turnover.—
Peter Mattes,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Frances shoves June at Boy Carteret.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
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Season 2 springboards on Fisk’s strongarm rule and his mandate to clean up the streets of rebels via his brutish Anti-Vigilante Task Force, which rounds up people – echoing recent INS maneuvers – and shoves them into deplorable conditions and cages.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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After that, the Moon moves from LEO into VIRGO.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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Sensory Reduction and Cortisol Removing visual stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces cortisol.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propels. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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