1
as in pushed
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 drove
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 propelled
Russia is now propelled by not Marxism but nationalism under the two-beamed cross of Orthodoxy.
—
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
High school culinary classes and a first job at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen propelled her into a gig at Muirfield Village Golf Club, working tournaments.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The service recorded the region’s second-highest streaming hours in Q4 trailing only Netflix, propelled by an expanding library of Indonesian originals and sports programming.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Some, in wheelchairs, are propelled along by other students.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Taiwan’s exports surged in January, propelled by the AI boom and high demand for its chips.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The decision instead reflected how California, Florida and other states were propelled by Ed O’Bannon’s successful case over the uncompensated use of college players’ likenesses in video game to adopt NIL statutes.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2026
In this formula, mystery abounds — propelled by notes of crushed violet, fern, hawthorn essence, and ambrette.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Since 2022, Hanwha has sold its K9 Thunder self propelled howitzer to Poland, Estonia, Romania and Norway, as well as its Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
High school culinary classes and a first job at Bob Evans Farmhouse Kitchen propelled her into a gig at Muirfield Village Golf Club, working tournaments.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The service recorded the region’s second-highest streaming hours in Q4 trailing only Netflix, propelled by an expanding library of Indonesian originals and sports programming.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
Some, in wheelchairs, are propelled along by other students.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Taiwan’s exports surged in January, propelled by the AI boom and high demand for its chips.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The decision instead reflected how California, Florida and other states were propelled by Ed O’Bannon’s successful case over the uncompensated use of college players’ likenesses in video game to adopt NIL statutes.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2026
In this formula, mystery abounds — propelled by notes of crushed violet, fern, hawthorn essence, and ambrette.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Since 2022, Hanwha has sold its K9 Thunder self propelled howitzer to Poland, Estonia, Romania and Norway, as well as its Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled
Verb
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Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal title in October 2025 and pushed out of his vast home at Royal Lodge after reports of his association with Epstein hit a fever pitch.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
YouTube pushed back on addiction claims YouTube wasn’t originally part of the lawsuit; Kaley and her mother decided to add it after learning about the platform’s addictive qualities, Lanier said.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Employment in health care again drove payroll gains in January, adding 82,000 jobs.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
His latest model, the Nike Ja 3, has drawn significant praise for a more radical design than its two predecessors and drove him to becoming StockX‘s second bestselling signature athlete.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Duren shoved Diabate’s face, and despite people on both sides trying to alleviate the tension, the usually mild-mannered Diabate kept trying to find Duren again.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Finally, they’re shoved out the door in Texas, no coat, no ID, no money, no phone, and have to try to make their way home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Accepting the award, Yeoh moved the audience with an emotional speech reflecting on her career.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Mission was moved from United Launch Alliance to speed up launch (ULA gets a future launch in exchange).—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Loudermill, a father of three from Olathe, was thrust into the public eye when his photograph, decked out in a Chiefs-red sweatsuit, sitting on a curb in handcuffs, began spreading rapidly online.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 Feb. 2026
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Like many international breakouts, Lilleaas has been thrust into the whirlwind of awards season.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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She was accused on Monday of having accidentally activated a website for a future campaign to lead the Labour Party.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
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Squirrel-proof bird feeders have openings that squirrels cannot reach into and, in some cases, they're activated by a bird landing on them.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Both were impelled to launch ninth-inning pushes to persuade Oscar voters that Shakespeare wasn’t really in love and Private Ryan needed serious saving.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
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Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies.—
David Kamp,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelled. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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