IMPELLED Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

impelled

verb

past tense of impel

as in drove

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in compelled

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 impelled Some fifteen years later, her determination to study Schubert lieder with expert teachers was in large part what impelled her to go to Europe. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 Despite the challenges, many candidates are impelled by the desire to steer political discourse toward civility and issues that matter most to ordinary citizens. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 His experience impelled him to join an informal yet determined community of researchers, doctors, and patients pushing for extra studies to help patients and doctors find the right dosage for an array of cancer drugs. — CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 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 That emotional closeness was one of the driving forces that impelled me to bring this project to the screen in an exercise of deep respect for a complex memory that does not lend itself to simplification. — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 19 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 Daniel’s commercial failure as a novelist impelled him to move to Los Angeles to try writing for the movies. — David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025 While the recent protests were sparked by the social media ban, protesters said that they had been impelled by years of government corruption and failure to provide young people with economic opportunities. — Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impelled

Verb

Although robust buyer demand briefly drove yields down to session lows following the auction, yield levels above 5% remain substantially higher than the historical norm over the past decade.

— , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
The suit says Her displayed doctored, sexualized photos of Henry and other officers, including in Henry's own office, and drove unannounced to a golf simulator in Woodbury where Henry was spending personal time.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

That’s an intentional strategy to catch the eye of commuters who might be compelled, on a whim, to stop for a quick game or two.

— Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Yet, C-suites are increasingly tempted (or worse, financially compelled) to govern purely by digital indicators.

— David Farbman, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of compelled

Verb

This week, SpaceX moved one step closer to its goal of building its direct-to-device Starlink Mobile service after the FCC approved the aerospace company’s application to deploy and operate 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
On the day Erica and Peter moved into 150 Charles, their attorney claims, they were greeted with a cluttered and dirty space that didn’t square with the $26,000-a-month rent.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61) and Tilak Varma (51 not out) propelled India to its highest-ever total of 211-6 against its traditional rival in the T20 format.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
The album propelled Bad Bunny to the top of the Billboard 200 (for the fourth time), and to headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, something only two other Latin acts — Jennifer Lopez and Shakira — have accomplished.

— Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of propelled

Verb

Doe alleges in her lawsuit that she was coerced into using drugs before the assault.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
They were coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement that prevented them from ever exposing the details of what happened, and at whose hands.

— Gretchen Carlson, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of coerced

Verb

The heavy rainfall activated the desert’s biological material, known as germplasm — seeds, bulbs and tubers but also the eggs of various invertebrates and reptiles.

— Nayara Batschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Officials said they will only be activated when a vehicle is traveling 11 miles or more over the speed limit.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of activated

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“Impelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impelled. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of impelled

verb

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