Meaning & use
compel
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Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
To make someone do something, using force, rules, or strong pressure so they have little choice.
Grammar: Takes an object and a to-infinitive: compel someone to leave.
Patterns
- compel someone to do something
- be compelled to do something
The court can compel witnesses to testify.
Rising debts compelled the family to sell their house.
She felt compelled to speak up when she heard the lie.
verbtransitive
To cause a strong reaction such as interest, admiration, or belief, because something is so powerful or convincing.
Grammar: Takes an object: the story compels attention.
Patterns
- compel attention
- compel admiration
Her speech compelled the attention of the whole room.
The evidence compels belief.
The performer's voice compels admiration even from critics.
Word forms
| third person singular | compels |
|---|---|
| past tense | compelled |
| past participle | compelled |
| -ing form | compelling |
Common combinations
- feel compelled to
- I felt compelled to apologize.
- compel someone to testify
- A subpoena can compel someone to testify.
- legally compelled
- The bank was legally compelled to release the records.
- compel obedience
- The regime used fear to compel obedience.
- compel attention
- The headline compels attention.
Synonyms and how they differ
- force
- Force is blunter and suggests physical or direct pressure, while compel can come from duty or circumstance.
- oblige
- Oblige suggests a duty or rule, and is milder than compel.
- coerce
- Coerce implies threats or unfair pressure, so it is more negative than compel.
- drive
- Drive describes an inner push, while compel often describes an outside one.
Opposites
Word family
- compulsion noun
- a strong urge to do something
- compulsory adjective
- required by a rule
- compelling adjective
- strongly convincing or attention-holding
- compulsive adjective
- done because of an uncontrollable urge
Commonly confused: compel or impel? compel or repel?
compel vs impel
Impel means to drive someone to act, often from within, while compel often involves outside pressure.
compel vs repel
Repel means to push away, which is the opposite direction from compel.
Practice
The new law will ____ all drivers to carry insurance.
Choose one answer.
Compel means to require, and fits a law. Enable and invite suggest permission, and excuse would free drivers from the duty.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “compel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.