PROPELLED Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

propelled

verb

past tense of propel

as in pushed

to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one playfully he propelled his rambunctious friend into the swimming pool to cool off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in drove

to set or keep in motion the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 propelled 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, 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 Instead, there are sneakers, T-shirts, and leggings—and dancers who stalk, slouch, flirt, and spring across the stage, propelled by Robert Prince’s rollicking jazz score. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026 Part 2 Measure G, propelled by Horvath, will result in expanding the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members in 2032 and create a new county chief executive position, with an election in 2028. — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 The movie is an epic series of harrumphs and harangues, propelled from room to room—and, in time, out into the world beyond the estate—by a spirit of impudent absurdism and corrosive cynicism which seems to emanate from Digger himself. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 In IconArrows pointing outwards This is due, first, to the fabulous gains in large-cap stocks propelled by this era’s technology leaders. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Yordan Alvarez propelled their lineup along with Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes. — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026 But when catastrophe leaves them fighting for survival, they are propelled into an impossible race against time that will test the limits of courage, sacrifice and love. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled

Verb

As the investigation uncovers a string of killings linked to a strange ritual, the two are pushed into working together, facing down otherworldly threats as well as unfinished business from Lan’s past.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Upon further investigation, officers determined the two had been allegedly pushed from a balcony, the NYPD said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of pushed

Verb

That same day, another couple, navy veterans Iris and David Galindo, drove to Moonlight Ridge to pick up their first order of goat milk.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
The government says the non-oil economy and job creation drove growth in the first half of this year.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

As Lindstrom’s voice echoed throughout his teammates’ helmets, safety Jessie Bates III shoved him once, then again, and again.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Like every fashion trend, barn jackets have enjoyed their time in the limelight, occasionally taking a back seat when trendier options like scarf coats and cropped puffers shoved them offstage.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of shoved

Verb

Use artificial intelligence to identify people who have moved or changed names.

— Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
The season has moved beyond introductions, and Saturday offers another chance to learn which teams are built to stay in the postseason conversation.

— Wilton Jackson, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Plucky teenager Satoko Nakai (Himeno) is first introduced with a nebulizer thrust up her nose.

— James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Streets follows an East LA street racing crew thrust into a dangerous, high-stakes hunt across Southern California, where every turn presents a new clue and a potential disaster.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrust

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

Verb

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, 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

Definition of impelled

Browse Nearby Words

propellants

propelled

propelling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Propelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of propelled

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes