compel

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "compel" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is being forced to do something, either through physical or psychological means. Example sentence: The prisoner's situation compelled him to cooperate with the police.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Collins said it was conceivable that lawyers acting for alleged victims would take legal action to compel police forces to hand over their files on Savile.

The Guardian

It is unclear what sort of legal process the government serves on a company to compel communications content and metadata access under Prism or through upstream collection.

The Guardian

Fox called for stronger sanctions to compel Iran to give up its nuclear weapons programme.

The Guardian

It was put to the prime minister that a way to make firms and public sector employers do the right thing would be to compel them to publish statistics detailing the diversity of their workforces.

The Guardian

If the Met decides against holding the hearing, the IPCC has powers to compel the force to do so.

The Guardian

It also sought to compel the corporation to disclose "key information that is in the hands of the BBC, which we have reason to believe can shed more light on a number of pertinent issues surrounding the origin, purpose, and source of funding for the documentary".

The Guardian

The disclosure bill complements a bipartisan bill entered in the Senate on 11 June, sponsored by eight senators, to compel release of the surveillance court's secret rulings.

The Guardian

In Canada, he added, "although there is a right to free speech, there is no right to compel someone to listen to your speech".

The Guardian

He reiterated that his report had "identified serious and wide-ranging issues with the bidding and selection process" despite the fact that he did not have the power to compel corrupt former Fifa officials to cooperate or to seize evidence.

The Guardian - Sport

In cases of refusal, the police can ask for a magistrates' order to compel the person to give his prints, but only if the person is 14 or older.

The Guardian

Perhaps the grape flavour was powerfully delicious enough to compel me to alter my behaviour.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compel" when you want to emphasize that someone is being forced or strongly obliged to do something, whether by law, circumstance, or authority. It conveys a sense of inevitability or lack of choice.

Common error

Avoid using "compel" when a milder term like "encourage" or "persuade" would be more appropriate. Overusing "compel" can make your writing sound overly dramatic or forceful when a gentler approach is intended.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "compel" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the act of forcing or obliging someone to do something. As Ludwig indicates, the word is correctly and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "compel" is a grammatically sound and frequently used transitive verb that signifies forcing or obliging someone to do something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is correct and usable. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, conveying a sense of obligation or force. While alternatives like "force", "oblige", and "require" exist, "compel" emphasizes inevitability or lack of choice. Use it judiciously to avoid sounding overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

force

Implies the use of power or coercion to make someone do something against their will. It's a direct synonym but can sometimes suggest a more physical form of pressure.

oblige

Suggests a moral or legal duty that necessitates a particular action. It's a more formal and less forceful alternative.

require

Indicates a necessity or condition that must be met. It often implies a rule or regulation.

necessitate

Highlights that a particular action is unavoidable or essential due to certain circumstances. It emphasizes the logical consequence rather than direct imposition.

coerce

Suggests using threats or intimidation to make someone do something. It implies a negative or manipulative approach.

pressure

Indicates applying influence or persuasion to make someone do something. It's less forceful than "compel" but still implies a degree of insistence.

make

Is a general term indicating causation or forcing, but lacks the nuance and formality of "compel".

drive

Implies pushing someone towards an action, often due to internal or external pressures. It emphasizes the motivating force behind the action.

urge

Suggests strongly encouraging or advising someone to do something. It's a milder form of persuasion than "compel".

induce

Indicates persuading or influencing someone to do something, often by offering incentives or appealing to their desires. It focuses on the method of persuasion rather than direct force.

FAQs

How to use "compel" in a sentence?

Use "compel" to indicate that someone is forced or obliged to do something. For example, "The evidence compelled him to admit the truth."

What can I say instead of "compel"?

You can use alternatives like "force", "oblige", or "require" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "compel" or "impel"?

"Compel" means to force someone to do something, while "impel" means to drive or urge someone forward. They have different meanings and are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "compel" and "persuade"?

"Compel" implies force or obligation, while "persuade" involves convincing someone through reasoning or argument. "Compel" removes choice, while "persuade" influences choice.