Synonyms for compel
kəmˈpɛlcom·pel

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 3 votes

1. compel

   To compel one to an act is to secure its performance by the use of irresistible physical or moral force. Force implies primarily an actual physical process, absolutely subduing all resistance. Coerce implies the actual or potential use of so much force as may be necessary to secure the surrender of the will; the American secessionists contended that the Federal government had no right to coerce a State. Constrain implies the yielding of judgment and will, and in some cases of inclination or affection, to an overmastering power; as, "the love of Christ constraineth us," 2 Cor. v, 14. Compare DRIVE; INFLUENCE.

   See synonyms for HINDER.

   Synonyms:
   coerce, constrain, drive, force, make, necessitate, oblige

   Preposition:
   The soldiers were compelled to desertion: preferably with the infinitive, compelled to desert.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 4 votes

1. compel

   Synonyms:
   force, oblige, drive, constrain, necessitate, make, coerce, bind

   Antonyms:
   persuade, convince, coax, allure, egg, induce, tempt, seduce, acquit, cozen, liberate, release

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 3 votes

1. compel, oblige, obligateverb

   force somebody to do something

   "We compel all students to fill out this form"

   Synonyms:
   oblige, accommodate, bind, obligate, hold

2. compelverb

   necessitate or exact

   "the water shortage compels conservation"

   Synonyms:
   oblige, obligate

Matched Categories

1. • Cause
   • Necessitate

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. compelverb

   Synonyms:
   force, oblige, constrain, coerce, drive, necessitate

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. compelverb

   Synonyms:
   force, make, constrain, oblige, necessitate, coerce, drive, dragoon, overpower

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "compel":

   oblige, coerce, force, require, obligate, impose, bind

How to pronounce compel?

How to say compel in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use compel in a sentence?

1. Jared Dearing:

   Most of us can not compel our local election jurisdictions to update their equipment.

2. Sage Eastman:

   What might compel [action], especially in this era of populism, is this broader sense of how much some folks are getting away with, lawfully or not.

3. Katell Thielemann:

   If you're a ransomware actor, your goal is to inflict as much pain as possible to compel these companies to pay you, this is beyond cybersecurity only, this is now a cyber-physical event where actual, physical-world processes get halted. When you can target companies in those environments, clearly that's where the most pain is felt because that's where they make money.

4. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya:

   We should not see it as something that will damage the old taxi industry, but merely to offer better services and compel them to modernize and innovate.

5. Rob Bonta:

   The current circumstances compel an outside review to not only restore public trust, preserve the safety of our community but also provide confidence in the outcome.