SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
compel
verb
To force or strongly persuade someone to act.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Force or require action
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topCoerce suggests pressure or threats; compelling circumstances can act without a person exerting force.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See compel in use
The missing receipts could compel the committee to postpone its decision.
Two student groups shared a set of portable display boards, and one organizer tried to compel the other group to surrender its reserved afternoon.
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