HOW TO PRONOUNCE
compel
/kəmˈpɛl/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does compel mean?
verb
- To overpower; to subdue.
- To force, constrain, or coerce.
- To forcefully or powerfully motivate (a course of action).
More meanings (6)
verb
- To have a strong, irresistible force (on someone or something).
- To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.
- (archaic) To drive together, round up.
- (obsolete) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
- (obsolete) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
- (obsolete) To call forth; to summon.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/kəmˈpɛl/
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Who shall settle the terms of peace, and in case of disputes what umpire shall decide between them and compel acquiescence?
“Don’t compel her to do anything against her will! I have lived with her, and know that she cannot bear much.”
More book examples (3)
The broad outstretched surfaces compel the wing at the outer side of the circle to travel faster than the inner one.
Well, my dear, here we are at last—just in time to compel Duke Rudolph to fulfil the terms of his marriage contract.
It would be unjust to compel the minority to contribute, by taxation, to the support of any laws which they did not approve.