Meaning & use
Compellent
Last updated
Having the power to compel or force action; used especially in political and military theory to describe strategies that pressure an opponent into changing behavior.
See it in a sentence
The sanctions were designed as a compellent measure to force the regime to negotiate.
Military strategists debated whether a compellent show of force would work better than diplomacy.
A note on using this word
In international relations theory, 'compellent' strategies (compellence) are contrasted with 'deterrent' strategies, which aim to prevent rather than force action.
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