Compel Definition

kəm-pĕl
compelled, compelling, compels
verb
compelled, compelling, compels
To force or constrain, as to do something.
Webster's New World
To necessitate or require, as by force of circumstance; demand.
Growing riots compelled the evacuation of the embassy.
American Heritage
To get or bring about by force.
Webster's New World
To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway.
American Heritage
To gather or drive together by force, as a flock.
Webster's New World

Origin of Compel

  • From Middle English compellen, from Middle French compellir, from Latin compellere, itself from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”). Displaced native Middle English fordriven ("to drive out, to lead to, to compel, to force"). More at fordrive.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English compellen from Latin compellere com- com- pellere to drive pel-5 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to compel using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

compel