Showing results for compels.

compels

VERB

force to act

Synonyms

STRONGEST

constrain enforce exact impel necessitate oblige urge

STRONG

bulldoze coerce concuss dragoon drive hustle make restrain squeeze

WEAK

crack down make necessary put the arm on put the chill on shotgun throw weight around turn on the heat

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dissuade

STRONG

discourage halt leave alone stop

WEAK

block check delay deter hinder impede obstruct

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A subpoena compels a party to release specified internal documents or information.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

Shameful pride compels me to say there are only about 300 players in the Hall of Fame.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Fragmentation compels banks and asset managers to localize balance sheets and hold excess capital, constraining cross-border intermediation and dampening growth.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

The State of the Union can be messy and frequently doesn’t live up to the hype, yet it compels the chief executive—and his critics—ultimately to address themselves to the source of American power, the people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Something compels me to seek out things that are better left alone.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman