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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of propel
The system uses the firm’s Prometheus electromagnetic accelerator that propels test materials through simulated weather.
—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
Will Smith’s star power propelled non-sequel superhero title Hancock and the Steven Spielberg-Tom Cruise pairing helped push War of the Worlds into tentpole territory.
—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
2 July 2026
The ship’s engine propels it when wind conditions are poor, giving the crew more control over its port schedule.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Willis, meanwhile, isn’t wasting anytime preparing to once again command center staged with the group that propelled him to international stardom.
—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
Will Smith’s star power propelled non-sequel superhero title Hancock and the Steven Spielberg-Tom Cruise pairing helped push War of the Worlds into tentpole territory.
—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
2 July 2026
The ship’s engine propels it when wind conditions are poor, giving the crew more control over its port schedule.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
Willis, meanwhile, isn’t wasting anytime preparing to once again command center staged with the group that propelled him to international stardom.
—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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Handing the survivor her jewelry and hearing her story a few days later gave Dondi and her team of volunteers a reassuring nudge to push forward with their work.
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Normally, the onshore flow — a west-to-southwest wind that creates the ocean breeze and pushes air away from the coasts — would push the particulate matter with it.
Verb
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The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.
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Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.
Verb
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Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.
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The calming locales both complement and contradict the plot’s revelations, which are hardly bombshells but do speak to how well-to-do families labor to shove inconvenient skeletons into the closet.
Verb
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To keep up with the fast-moving aerial acts, the app features an adjustable countdown timer set to the official schedule.
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If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
Verb
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Now another boom, AI, has thrust him back into the three-comma club.
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On board, the crew prepared to thrust heaving lines over the white hull of this historic 295-foot behemoth.
Verb
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Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
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Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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