as in to coerce
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 compel
New York Times Kamala Harris felt compelled to speak out about what President Trump was doing to the country.
—
New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
Trump is not compelled to release any information, and there is no template for the presidential exam.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
Last year, the trial judge, Spencer Eig, denied the Dolphins’ motion to compel arbitration.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Apr. 2025
To compel Brand to return home, the UK government’s Home Office would need to make an extradition request to U.S. authorities.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compel
New York Times, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
Trump is not compelled to release any information, and there is no template for the presidential exam.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
Last year, the trial judge, Spencer Eig, denied the Dolphins’ motion to compel arbitration.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Apr. 2025
To compel Brand to return home, the UK government’s Home Office would need to make an extradition request to U.S. authorities.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compel
Verb
-
The settlement also adds that Google will not interfere with, restrain or coerce workers in the exercise of their rights.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
-
If a sitting or former president can successfully coerce law firms into submission by threatening financial ruin, what happens to the idea of legal independence?—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
However, no amount of care or good intentions can prevent the sudden demolition of the brothers’ home, courtesy of a vague order from the IDF — for which the family is even forced to pay.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
-
However, he became immediately stressed out when he was forced to choose between Tunechi and fellow Detroit rap legend Eminem.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
You are not obligated to have a conversation with the police.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The district is not obligated to use the full amount.—
Phil Rockrohr,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Gentry implied that the growth sprang largely from American unexpectedly adding flights, which the airport is contractually obliged to accommodate, The Ledger reported.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Wolff said Xi may not be ready to take Taiwan by force yet as there are other hotspots in the South China Sea where the U.S. potentially would be obliged to intervene against Chinese belligerence, such as the Philippines.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Ontario Home Builders’ Association warned last month that tariffs and counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum products would likely drive up the costs of construction materials, making building and buying new homes more expensive, worsening the housing affordability issue.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Atlanta took advantage, with Trae Young driving for a layup to tie the score at 106 with 1.3 seconds remaining and force overtime.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compel. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share