1
as in drives
to set or keep in motion
gasoline impels a car's engine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compels
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
I felt impelled to tell the truth, however painful it might be
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Recent Examples of impels
And so, our mission – grounded in both truth and love – impels us to discern the motives that shape events, and the shifts in thought that drive human progress through higher ideals of justice, mercy, and wisdom.
—
Christa Case Bryant,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Mar. 2025
Christa Case Bryant,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impels
Verb
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By stripping out parts and, crucially, reducing the number of unique parts, the company shortens manufacturing time, raises reliability, and drives down cost, all at once.
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Fire shelters are mandatory equipment for crews who work across rugged terrain where things can change at a moment’s notice, especially when extremely dry and windy weather drives the flames, as happened last Saturday.
Verb
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This ruling compels companies to confront systemic biases embedded in their hiring data, rather than solely blaming technology.
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When systemic failures persist, lawsuits are the catalyst that compels meaningful reform and protects children who cannot protect themselves.
Verb
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The moody Moon moves through your 7th House of Partnership as the Sun energizes your 11th House of Friends and Community, aligning cooperation with a larger purpose.
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Trainer Robert Ndungu moves between them, occasionally kneeling to demonstrate the correct technique.
Verb
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This forces the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve between the esophagus and the stomach, to open and close rapidly in succession.
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Andy’s diagnosis pulled her back overnight—a common reality for glioblastoma families, since the disease often forces patients to stop working.
Verb
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Rucking activates the upper trapezius, shoulders, upper back, abdominals, obliques and lower back, according to trainers and coaches who specialize in the method.
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Scent activates pathways that trigger emotional and memory responses.
Verb
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However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.
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Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.
Verb
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The system uses the firm’s Prometheus electromagnetic accelerator that propels test materials through simulated weather.
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The ship’s engine propels it when wind conditions are poor, giving the crew more control over its port schedule.
Verb
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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.
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The automotive groups accused Volkswagen of violating a standard dealer agreement, which obligates the company to sell its products through authorized dealerships.
Cite this Entry
“Impels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impels. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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