Synonym Chooser

How does the verb impel differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of impel are actuate, drive, and move. While all these words mean "to set or keep in motion," impel is usually figurative and suggests a great motivating impetus.

a candidate impelled by ambition

When is it sensible to use actuate instead of impel?

The synonyms actuate and impel are sometimes interchangeable, but actuate stresses transmission of power so as to work or set in motion.

turbines actuated by waterpower

When is drive a more appropriate choice than impel?

Although the words drive and impel have much in common, drive implies imparting forward and continuous motion and often stresses the effect rather than the impetus.

a ship driven aground by hurricane winds

When would move be a good substitute for impel?

The words move and impel can be used in similar contexts, but move is very general and implies no more than the fact of changing position.

moved the furniture

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 impel Are the individuals to blame, or are they impelled by a cruel society or a divinely sanctioned hand? Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 Economic troubles have impelled many Southern conservatives, like Mayor Rocker, to consider fresh approaches to the role that government plays in health care. Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2024 When Instagram sends notifications about likes or worthwhile posts, people are impelled to open the app and start scrolling; when sports-betting apps send push alerts about fantastic parlays, people are coaxed into placing one more bet. Christine Emba, The Atlantic, 8 July 2024 Recent botanical research such as Clark’s impelled the foundation to expand into Centinela. Amanda Schupak, CNN, 13 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for impel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impel
Verb
  • Decision-makers have an opportunity to ensure that the very tools designed to drive revenue don’t end up stifling creativity.
    Seth Yudof, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The other victims include the 26-year-old driving the BMW, his 23-year-old passenger and the front passenger of the Camry.
    Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • If the court finds that Musk is the child's father, St. Clair can then compel him to pay child support.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Mulligan invites Thompson — after her Misty used magic to compel the dragon to dance as a distraction — to roll for the dragon’s power to resist it.
    Eric Francisco, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Re-signing two of their own free agents, defensive tackle Kevin Givens and running back Patrick Taylor Jr., to one-year deals didn’t move the enthusiasm needle much, either.
    Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
  • In each of the past two seasons, the Patriots have moved Onwenu from guard to tackle to stem the bleeding in pass protection.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Tracking the Trump administration’s rollback of climate and environmental policies can seem like being forced through a wormhole back in time.
    Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The episode opened right where the last one left off — Britney was forced to decide Danielle’s fate at the roundtable after Danielle and Ivar tied in votes at the penultimate banishment ceremony.
    Emily Longeretta, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Leo full moon activates themes of intimacy and transformation, encouraging you to dive deeper into your emotional connections.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The following year, on Oct. 21, the fledgling military branch activated Space Operations Command at Peterson Air Force Base (now Peterson Space Force Base) in Colorado.
    Julian Dossett, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s rocky relationship with Zelensky goes back five years—to when Trump first held up military assistance Congress had authorized for Ukraine to coerce Zelensky into investigating his political rival Joe Biden.
    Brian Bennett, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
  • A week later, the White House used the threat of tariffs to coerce Mexico into dispatching thousands of additional troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to combat fentanyl smuggling.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, the wide, stable platform and bouncy, just-soft-enough foam gently propelled me forward.
    Lauren Wingenroth, SELF, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Inflation spiked in 2022 to its highest level in four decades, propelling Trump to the White House and leading the Fed to rapidly raise interest rates to tame prices.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While the city is legally obligated to make the $175 million pension payment, the majority of staff covered by the municipal pension fund are current or former nonteacher CPS staff.
    Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
  • On one hand, there's a series of boring meet-and-greets Fisk is obligated to make.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impel. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on impel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!