compel, impel — These words agree in the idea of using physical or other force to result in a course of action, to cause something to be done. Compel has a greater sense of coercion, of actual force, than does impel: My mounting debts compelled me to seek a loan … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
compel, impel — Both words imply the application of a force leading to some form of action, but they are not quite synonymous. Compel is the stronger of the two and, like its cousin compulsion, suggests action undertaken as a result of coercion or… … Dictionary of troublesome word
compel, impel — Both words imply the application of a force leading to some form of action, but they are not quite synonymous. Compel is the stronger of the two and, like its cousin compulsion, suggests action undertaken as a result of coercion or… … Dictionary of troublesome word
compel — compellable, adj. compellably, adv. compellent, adj. compeller, n. compellingly, adv. /keuhm pel /, v., compelled, compelling. v.t. 1. to force or drive, esp. to a course of action: His disregard of the rules compels us to dismiss him … Universalium
compel — com•pel [[t]kəmˈpɛl[/t]] v. t. pelled, pel•ling 1) to force or drive, esp. to a course of action: His unruliness compels us to dismiss him[/ex] 2) to secure or bring about by force or power: to compel obedience[/ex] 3) archaic to drive together;… … From formal English to slang
impel — See compel. See compel, impel See impel, induce … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
impel — im|pel [ımˈpel] v past tense and past participle impelled present participle impelling [T] formal [Date: 1400 1500; : Latin; Origin: impellere, from pellere to drive ] if something impels you to do something, it makes you feel very strongly that… … Dictionary of contemporary English
compel — See compel, impel … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
compel — com·pel /kəm pel/ vt com·pelled, com·pel·ling: to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure and esp. by authority or law cannot compel the defendant to testify the result...is compelled by, the original understanding of the fourteenth… … Law dictionary
impel — I verb actuate, agitate, arouse, catapult, cause, drive forward, drive onward, encourage, fling, give an impetus, heave, hurl, impart momentum, impart motion, incitare, incite, incite to action, induce, instigate, jaculate, launch, mobilize,… … Law dictionary
