as in to coerce
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compel
Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father's legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
In both instances, the TV Academy was compelled to step in, underscoring the urgent need for consistency and clarity in nomination processes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 May 2025
This is the kind of movie that compels you to chew your fingernails to the very nubbies, as well as those on the person next to you.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Martinez Franco said those promises compelled her to support the municipal cemetery, but Mai said that Irvine no longer should.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compel
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
In both instances, the TV Academy was compelled to step in, underscoring the urgent need for consistency and clarity in nomination processes.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 28 May 2025
This is the kind of movie that compels you to chew your fingernails to the very nubbies, as well as those on the person next to you.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
Martinez Franco said those promises compelled her to support the municipal cemetery, but Mai said that Irvine no longer should.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compel
Verb
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Defense attorneys for the juvenile defendants, Matthew Niemiec and Mark Grier, said the suspects were coerced into the alleged crime.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2025
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Scammers often ask for money or coerce their victims into performing harmful acts.—
Nicole Valdes,
CBS News,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Whether that’s a trial site, a community center or the patient’s workplace, this model removes friction from both ends: Participants aren’t forced to travel, and sponsors don’t have to wait for overwhelmed sites to come online.—
Sonali Bloom,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Despite Anna’s meticulous preparations, her intent to force confessions from the passengers and deliver them directly to authorities is immediately derailed when just hours into the trip one of her guests is murdered.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
Verb
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However, a driver is not legally obligated to submit to a field sobriety test, pre-arrest test or cheek swab at a DUI checkpoint, according to the Law Offices of Grech and Parker in Riverside. Field sobriety tests are subjective and may not accurately measure sobriety, according to Bee archives.—
Sarah Linn,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
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The county has also received a $7 million federal grant, which must be obligated in 2026, Theodore said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Verb
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In a debate with his opponent in late May, Trzaskowski spoke out about the upcoming EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which in theory could oblige Poland to take more refugees from the Middle East and Africa or face penalties.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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If the Guardians were looking for the slider this time, Soriano didn’t oblige.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Cultural messaging conditions women to play small We’re encouraged to be grateful, careful, and selfless; not bold, strategic, or profit driven.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Goldstein drove Boozer home with a sacrifice fly and Corral plated the go-ahead run with a single through the right side.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compel. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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