What does "compel" mean?
To drive together, round up.
Compel
/kəmˈpɛl/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To drive together, round up.
- Grammar: compel is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: oblige, actuate, animate, beat down.
- Useful contrasts: no force, cajoling, coaxing.
- Usage evidence: If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.
How to use "compel"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "compel" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "compel" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "compel" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "compel" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "compel" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "oblige" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "compel", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To drive together, round up. archaic, literally, transitive
"The shepherds compelled the stray sheep into the fold as night began to fall."
- 2 force somebody to do something wordnet
- 3 To overpower; to subdue. transitive
"She had one of those perfect faces, which irresistibly compel the soul of a man."
- 4 necessitate or exact wordnet
- 5 To force, constrain, or coerce. transitive
"Logic compels the wise, while fools feel compelled by emotions."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 To forcefully or powerfully motivate (a course of action). transitive
"As the novel progresses, it picks up a propulsive energy, the kind that compels you to keep reading straight through to the end."
- 7 To have a strong, irresistible force (on someone or something). transitive
- 8 To exact, extort, (make) produce by force. transitive
"Commissions, which compel from each / The sixth part of his substance."
- 9 To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. obsolete
"Easy sleep their weary limbs compell'd."
- 10 To gather or unite in a crowd or company. obsolete
"in one troop compell'd"
- 11 To call forth; to summon. obsolete
"She had this knight from far compeld."
Example
"If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "compel"?
Common synonyms include: oblige, actuate, animate, beat down, beset, bind.
How do you use "compel" in a sentence?
If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.
How do you pronounce "compel"?
Pronounced /kəmˈpɛl/.
Etymology
From Middle English compellen, borrowed from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Old English nīedan.