IMPEL Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'impel' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of impel are actuate , drive , and move . While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus. // a candidate impelled by ambition

Q: When is it sensible to use 'actuate' instead of 'impel'?

The synonyms actuate and impel are sometimes interchangeable, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion. // turbines actuated by waterpower

Q: When is 'drive' a more appropriate choice than 'impel'?

Although the words drive and impel have much in common, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus. // a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

Q: When would 'move' be a good substitute for 'impel'?

The words move and impel can be used in similar contexts, but move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position. // moved the furniture

impel

verb

im-ˈpel

Definition of impel

as in to drive

to set or keep in motion gasoline impels a car's engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to compel

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure I felt impelled to tell the truth, however painful it might be

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb impel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of impel are actuate, drive, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When is it sensible to use actuate instead of impel?

The synonyms actuate and impel are sometimes interchangeable, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When is drive a more appropriate choice than impel?

Although the words drive and impel have much in common, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When would move be a good substitute for impel?

The words move and impel can be used in similar contexts, but move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impel Sometimes the ideological passions that impelled a work into existence dissolve over time, leaving behind something that can be appreciated as art. — Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Both were impelled to launch ninth-inning pushes to persuade Oscar voters that Shakespeare wasn’t really in love and Private Ryan needed serious saving. — Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026 Parallel with that, city enforcement is essential to holding accountable the app companies dispatching the 65,000-plus e-bike delivery workers within timeframes that impel the breaking of traffic laws. — Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026 But Operation Epic Fury should also impel legislators to think about future ways to place presidential war powers back within the limits of a deliberative, constitutional republic. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impel

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impel

Verb

The abnormal heat has been driven by the onset of El Niño, a natural climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters along the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Congestion is difficult to predict, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, when driving behavior shifted and peak traffic hours spread out instead of sticking to the more uniform 9-to-5 workday.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of drive

Verb

Detective Joshua Hylton was granted a geofence warrant that compelled Google to search its database and identify every cellphone in a 17½-acre area around the bank, including private residences and a church, for a period of two hours.

— Anne Toomey McKenna, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
The Current building the stadium, of course, helped compel the expansion that opened in May with a stop that is about a five-minute walk from the stadium.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

Definition of compel

Verb

Enterprises that route requests between multiple models can be coerced into selecting the weakest route.

— Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
What’s not clear is whether the department will eventually use its muscle to coerce builders, suppliers, and property owners into upgrading their sheds and fielding them more sparingly.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026

Definition of coerce

Verb

The one-two acquisition punch would propel the Ellison family to top-tier moguls with influence over CNN, CBS News, HBO, Turner Classic Movies and two historic Hollywood studios.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
All five stocks are members of the Magnificent Seven, a group of mega-cap technology stocks that has been credited with propelling the market to record highs over recent years.

— Alex Harring,Luke Fountain, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Definition of propel

Verb

Meanwhile, Miami Planning Director David Snow told commissioners, the city has been obligated to approve dozens of Live Local projects, though only two are under construction.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
The Montreux Convention obligates Turkey to allow commercial ships freedom of passage, but allows the country to charge for some specific things, including sanitary, pilotage, towage and lighthouse services.

— Joanne Stocker, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of obligate

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impeding

impel

impelled

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“Impel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of impel

verb

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