compels

verb

(transitive) To force, constrain, or coerce.

(transitive) To forcefully or powerfully motivate (a course of action).

(transitive) To have a strong, irresistible force (on someone or something).

(transitive) To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.

(transitive) To overpower; to subdue.

(transitive, archaic, literally) To drive together, round up.

(obsolete) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

(obsolete) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

(obsolete) To call forth; to summon.

Roots

pellopel- · Latin · drive, push

Synonyms & related words for compels

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of compels. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to compels

Explore words related to compels — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include oblige, obligate, compelled, impel, coerce, compelling, persuades, coercer. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does compels come from?

The word compels breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root pel-, from Latin pello (“drive, push”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.