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
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
Rocking technology built directly into the insoles propels you forward with every step, and Vibram outsoles offer excellent grip on both trail and street terrain.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Spencer Platt | Getty Images Starbucks on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results as the company's turnaround propels traffic growth for the first time in two years but weighs on its bottom line.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
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
Rocking technology built directly into the insoles propels you forward with every step, and Vibram outsoles offer excellent grip on both trail and street terrain.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2026
Spencer Platt | Getty Images Starbucks on Wednesday reported mixed quarterly results as the company's turnaround propels traffic growth for the first time in two years but weighs on its bottom line.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels
Verb
-
Panama’s Jonathan Araúz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Overnight line of storms with damaging winds A second chance for severe storms comes later Tuesday as a cold front pushes through the region, likely bringing a line of storms with damaging winds and heavy rain, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The energy price shock that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago is fresh in the minds of European policymakers as the conflict in Iran once again drives oil and gas prices higher.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
That curiosity still drives him today.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The agent shoves the observer again, and then turns his attention to Pretti, pushing him out of the way before shoving the observer to the ground.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the train moves through the Hudson Valley and up toward the Canadian border, riverfront towns give way to wide expanses of water and distant mountain peaks.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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The bodywork also moves now — the wings literally adjust as the car moves around the track, which sounds made up but isn’t.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Venus and Pluto’s connection activates the friends-to-lovers pipeline.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike most opioids, buprenorphine only partially activates opioid receptors, providing enough stimulation to prevent withdrawal and cravings while not causing euphoria.—
Rachel French,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propels. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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