as in obligates
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Recent Examples of compels
At the book’s conclusion, looking far into a post-apocalyptic future, Jacobsen compels us to consider what future generations—or the remnants of humanity, should any survive a nuclear war—might think of a civilization that took 12,000 years to build but just 72 hours to destroy itself.
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Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Dianne Brill talking about what compels them to create, among other topics.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 27 Dec. 2024
Then a third factor—behavioral drive—compels you to go out and do your job, or find a mate, or gather sustenance.
—Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
Both visions contain and reflect reality, but as a member of society myself, there’s no question as to which compels me more.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024
Its centering of Jim’s voice compels us to reconsider whose stories are told, how they’re framed, and what truths are left in the margins.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024
The sun confronting Neptune compels you to disengage entirely.
—USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
This compels Chinese companies to support state intelligence gathering and to operate in such a way as to support the state’s intelligence aspirations.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The same dish compels another writer, Marcella Hazan, to take an ethical stand.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Michael Sheldrick, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Dianne Brill talking about what compels them to create, among other topics.
—Morgan Meier, Curbed, 27 Dec. 2024
Then a third factor—behavioral drive—compels you to go out and do your job, or find a mate, or gather sustenance.
—Marla Broadfoot, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024
Both visions contain and reflect reality, but as a member of society myself, there’s no question as to which compels me more.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024
Its centering of Jim’s voice compels us to reconsider whose stories are told, how they’re framed, and what truths are left in the margins.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024
The sun confronting Neptune compels you to disengage entirely.
—USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
This compels Chinese companies to support state intelligence gathering and to operate in such a way as to support the state’s intelligence aspirations.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
The same dish compels another writer, Marcella Hazan, to take an ethical stand.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near compels
Cite this Entry
“Compels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compels. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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