1
as in pushing
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 driving
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 propelling
This dual function allows the insect to execute dramatic maneuvers — up to 96-degree turns in 50 milliseconds — while propelling itself at speeds of 120 body lengths per second, a performance comparable to the acrobatic saccades of fruit flies in air.
—
John Drake, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The track itself functions as a giant linear motor, propelling the train forward like a wave pushing a surfer.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Klarna made its New York Stock Exchange debut this week, sending its market cap soaring to $15 billion—propelling around 40 staffers to millionaire status overnight, with its executive team gaining the most from the IPO.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
The trekking poles that had been propelling me would soon become invaluable on the descent.
—Katie Jackson, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Shares climbed 36%, propelling Oracle to a record high .
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
The team secured a last-second field goal, propelling the team to a 34-32 win.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Porro has been entrusted with propelling the world’s biggest high-end design trade show into the modern age during a challenging period, and exporting the fair to new global markets like Saudi Arabia.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
These stellar fireworks generated extraordinarily powerful galactic winds, first detected in 2019, spanning a whopping 326,200 light-years, propelling gas and dust outward into the galaxy's vast halo of hot gas, known as the circumgalactic medium, or CGM.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
John Drake, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The track itself functions as a giant linear motor, propelling the train forward like a wave pushing a surfer.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Klarna made its New York Stock Exchange debut this week, sending its market cap soaring to $15 billion—propelling around 40 staffers to millionaire status overnight, with its executive team gaining the most from the IPO.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
The trekking poles that had been propelling me would soon become invaluable on the descent.
—Katie Jackson, Outside, 11 Sep. 2025
Shares climbed 36%, propelling Oracle to a record high .
—Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
The team secured a last-second field goal, propelling the team to a 34-32 win.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Porro has been entrusted with propelling the world’s biggest high-end design trade show into the modern age during a challenging period, and exporting the fair to new global markets like Saudi Arabia.
—Wwd Staff, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
These stellar fireworks generated extraordinarily powerful galactic winds, first detected in 2019, spanning a whopping 326,200 light-years, propelling gas and dust outward into the galaxy's vast halo of hot gas, known as the circumgalactic medium, or CGM.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelling
Verb
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Now, major Hollywood unions and progressive groups are pushing back, accusing ABC and its affiliates of censorship and demanding a boycott of Disney properties.—
Amanda Castro
Shane Croucher
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Even as Brazil slows deforestation, more than 13% of the Amazon is gone, pushing one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks closer to a tipping point.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nothing better than putting down the top and driving beautiful roads just after the rain stops and the air is powerfully charged by the nearby ocean, scrubbed clean.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The jury cleared Read of killing O’Keefe, charging her with just drunken driving.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Abughazaleh posted footage to her 117,000 followers on Instagram of an agent shoving her to the ground.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Boston Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Matthew Gurich, the deputy seen on video shoving the woman outside the jail in downtown Sacramento, was fired from the Sheriff’s Office in April.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Both offenses are moving with little resistance thus far.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Both injuries have significant implications for fantasy, as Jacory Croskey-Merritt is assured more touches in Washington moving forward; in Green Bay, Matthew Golden will have more chances to show his skills with Reed out in Week 3 and beyond.—
Jess Bryant,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Students are returning to class Wednesday at Utah Valley University just days after prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event on campus, thrusting the community into the national spotlight.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
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Things take a turn when the gig spirals, thrusting Millie into a dangerous dynamic.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Each year, around two million people worldwide are diagnosed with colorectal cancer – and approximately 15-20% of patients have activating mutations in the PI3K pathway, primarily in the PIK3CA gene.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Sep. 2025
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Leaders must intentionally nurture the kind of work environments capable of activating the opportunities and benefits from this multi-faceted workforce.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelling. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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