1
as in to push
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 to drive
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 propel
This is the video that ends up propelling her to viral fame.
—
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 6 May 2026
And they were propelled by Brunson’s 27 first-half points.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
Dolphins propel themselves by oscillating their tails in a powerful vertical kicking motion, which drives water backward and creates a wake of complex, turbulent currents.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026
This would be fine in previous seasons, where the ’90s storyline propelled each episode with fresh hell in every episode.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Erin Qualey, Vulture, 6 May 2026
And they were propelled by Brunson’s 27 first-half points.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
Dolphins propel themselves by oscillating their tails in a powerful vertical kicking motion, which drives water backward and creates a wake of complex, turbulent currents.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026
This would be fine in previous seasons, where the ’90s storyline propelled each episode with fresh hell in every episode.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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State troopers pulled him out of his seat and pushed him down the gallery.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Potter pushed away people over and over again, and The Dark Wizard uses archival footage, various interviews, and Potter’s journals to try to understand why.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Verb
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And in recent years, a new crop of miners driven by rising gold prices have sought to return to the landscape.—
Sarah Raza,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
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Further, the tax disincentivizes success, weakens California’s standing as a hub for innovation, and demonizes the wealthy – all of which erode investment, drive economic activity elsewhere, and are ultimately incompatible with America’s capitalist roots.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Mira and her friends began shoving Sloane toward Leo, with no success.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Police say Rickman, as seen in dashcam video, shoved his relative out of the driver's seat and onto the pavement, gunned the engine and took off.—
Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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There is still work to do; however, current congressional leadership has moved us in the right direction.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Before the vote, loud boos resounded as House Republicans arrived and moved through a crowd of protesters from the elevator to the House chamber.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Several recent deadly and serious crashes involving popular electric scooters have thrust their safety into the spotlight.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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And later, when water levels dropped, tectonics shifted, reefs grew, and the ice age locked away the planet’s water supplies into glaciers, and new faults thrust the land skyward to dry?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Moon in Sagittarius activates your 3rd House of Communication, encouraging direct expression and clearer exchanges.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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