SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
compelling
adjective
Strongly persuasive or holding close attention.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Strongly persuasive
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topIrresistible is stronger; a compelling argument can still require critical examination.
Holding close attention
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topThis sense concerns interest or attention, rather than the truth of an argument.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See compelling in use
The applicant offered a compelling explanation for the change.
A separate proposal to improve the route map made a more compelling case because several documented errors were easy to identify.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license