First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
compel
verb com·pel \kəm-ˈpel\
: to force (someone) to do something
: to make (something) happen : to force (something)
com·pelledcom·pel·ling
Full Definition of COMPEL
transitive verb
1
: to drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly <hunger compelled him to eat>
2
: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure <public opinion compelled her to sign the bill>
3
archaic : to drive together
— com·pel·la·ble \-ˈpe-lə-bəl\ adjective
See compel defined for English-language learners
See compel defined for kids
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Origin of COMPEL
Middle English compellen, from Anglo-French compeller, from Latin compellere, from com- + pellere to drive — more at felt
Related to COMPEL
Synonym Discussion of COMPEL
force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield. force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress <forced to flee for their lives>. compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force <compelled to admit my mistake>. coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure <coerced into signing over the rights>. constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice <constrained by conscience>. oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty <felt obliged to go>.
Rhymes with COMPEL
band shell, barbell, Becquerel, Blackwell, bluebell, bombshell, bridewell, cadelle, cartel, chandelle, Chanel, clamshell, cormel, cornel, corral, cowbell, cupel, diel, dispel, doorbell, dry cell, dry well, dumbbell, duxelles, ear shell, eggshell, excel, expel, farewell, fat cell, foretell, fuel cell, gazelle, germ cell, Glaspell, gromwell, groundswell, half shell, handbell, hard sell, hard-shell, harebell, hotel, impel, indwell, inkwell, Jarrell, jurel, Kandel, lampshell, lapel, Mandel, marcel, maxwell, Maxwell, micelle, misspell, morel, motel, nacelle, nerve cell, Nobel, noel, nouvelle, nutshell, oil well, Orel, Orwell, outsell, pall-mall, Parnell, pastel, pell-mell, pixel, pointelle, Ponselle, presell, propel, quenelle, rakehell, rappel, Ravel, rebel, refel, repel, respell, retell, riel, rondel, Roswell, saurel, scalpel, seashell, sequel, sleigh bell, soft sell, soft-shell, solgel, speedwell, spinel, stairwell, star shell, stem cell, tooth shell, unsell, unwell, upwell, wind-bell
COMPELS Defined for Kids
compel
verb com·pel \kəm-ˈpel\
com·pelledcom·pel·ling
Definition of COMPEL for Kids
1
: to make (as a person) do something by the use of physical, moral, or mental pressure : force <… so greatly did hunger compel him, he was not above taking what did not belong to him. — Jack London, The Call of the Wild>
2
: to make happen by force <He compelled obedience.>
Word Root of COMPEL
The Latin word pellere, meaning “to cause to move” or “to drive,” gives us the root pel. Words from the Latin pellere have something to do with driving or causing something to move. To propel is to drive forward. To compel is to drive someone to do something. To expel is to drive out. To repel is to drive back or away.
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