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com·pel

compel

 
 
pronunciation:
km pel
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Grammatical Patterns, Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: compels, compelling, compelled
definition 1: to force or drive to some action or attitude; pressure.
The customer's violent behavior compelled the store manager to call the police.[verb + smby/smth + infinitive ] A terrible sense of guilt compelled him to confess.[verb + smby/smth + infinitive ]
synonyms:
coerce, constrain, force, impel, pressure, push, urge
similar words:
bend, conscript, drive, hustle, make, press, press, shove, strong-arm
definition 2: to make necessary; exact.
The food shortage compelled strict rationing.
synonyms:
exact, necessitate, require
similar words:
cause, demand, insist, make
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition: to affect or influence forcefully.
synonyms:
boss, press
similar words:
drive, hustle, push, shove
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: compellable (adj.), compellably (adv.), compeller (n.)
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature