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.
Source: tatoeba (918755)
Compel
/kəmˈpɛl/
Synonyms for "compel" (193 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (39)
Strong matches (58)
Related words (96)
impelimposeinciteinfatuateinsist uponintimidatekeep downkeep underlord it overmakemotivatemovemove to actionnecessitatenot let goobligeobsessoppressoveraweoverbear
Show 42 more words
overmasteroverridepossesspowerpreoccupypress heavy onpressurepromotepropelprovokepushput in motionrailroadrepressrestrainride override roughshod overscrewset agoingset goingset in motionshotgunsparkstimulatesubjugatesuppressterrorizethrusttietrample downtrample upontread downtread upontyrannizetyrannize overunmanuse force uponwalk all overwalk overweigh heavy onwhip onwrench
Verb(15 words)
Noun(16 words)
levyingmandatingmore forcedmustobligation to helpobligation to learnpeer forcedphysical forcingportuguese forçapressuringspanish fuerzastudent force readingsubject someone tosubpoenataskmastersuse force
Adjective(2 words)
mandated textobligated
Preposition(1 words)
with force
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: oblige, actuate, animate, beat down, beset.
- Sentence evidence is available for compel, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "compel".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "compel"
Keep "compel" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "compel" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "compel", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "compel" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriescompel a responsecompel actioncompel attentioncompel beliefcompel compliancecompel obedience
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
9 translations across 8 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- ենթարկել verb (overpower)
Bulgarian
1 entries- подчиня́вам verb (overpower)
Czech
2 entries- podrobit verb (overpower)
- podrobovat verb (overpower)
Dutch
1 entries- bedwingen verb (overpower)
Finnish
1 entries- alistaa verb (overpower)
Galician
1 entries- domear verb (overpower)
German
1 entries- zwingen verb (overpower)
Russian
1 entries- подчиня́ть verb (overpower)
Sample sentences
25 total sentences available.
Hunger is a very powerful human instinct which can compel us to extremes of behaviour.
Source: tatoeba (5206618)
I compel you to adhere to our master's teachings.
Source: tatoeba (6687029)
O Muse, assist me and inspire my song, / the various causes and the crimes relate, / for what affronted majesty, what wrong / to injured Godhead, what offence so great / Heaven's Queen resenting, with remorseless hate, / could one renowned for piety compel / to brave such troubles, and endure the weight / of toils so many and so huge. O tell / how can in heavenly minds such fierce resentment dwell?
Source: tatoeba (6778742)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "compel"?
Closest matches include oblige, actuate, animate, beat down, beset.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "compel"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.