to impel
4
7.2
- verb
- /ɪmˈpɛl/
:
impulsar
- The urgency of the situation will impel us to make a decision quickly.
- impel you to action
- impels us to act
And it probably in some way impelled me toward being able to join Scientology and stick it out as long as I did.
- And it probably in some way impelled me toward being able to join Scientology and stick it out as long as I did.
- He he says there's no lack of that chill wind, companion of fright, fear which sets the limbs of tremble and impels them to flight.
- And that's, you know, that was the interest that I, I, I would impel to, to write this book.
Examples
-
Something impels her to go over and sit by the woman.
Fiction book (2000) -
Habits of competition also impel the poor nations to pursue what the rich nations possess.
Academic text (1992) -
The reality of our situation impels us to act and think more clearly.
Academic text (2000) -
What do you suppose impels him into these strange positions?
-
No urgent reason impels us to check matters out in the field.
Academic text (2001) -
My stubbornness and vexation impel me to ask and go on asking.
Fiction book (1994) -
The social habit of mind, he wrote, which impels us to make the life of our fellow beings a burden to them.
-
Big Mama Rag should impel courts to interpret the public policy doctrine narrowly.
Academic text (2016) -
Such a sight should send a thrill of horror through the nerves of civilization and impel the heart of humanity to lofty deeds.
-
Some observers believe that sagging profits in the insurance industry may soon impel premiums (Levit, Lazenby, & Sivarajan, 1996).
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To force someone to do something
∞
2.3
To make someone do something by using power or pressure
∞
3.6
To cause someone to want to do something strongly
958
1.1
To urge someone to do something or try harder
591
3.2
To strongly encourage someone to do something
285
3.9
Ask someone firmly and repeatedly to do something
258
4.8
Force someone to do something or make them feel they must
149
4.2
To try to make someone do something
91
6.4
Force someone to do something by threats
72
4.5
To make someone do something because the law or rules say so
51
4.9
Persuade someone to do something
45
4.7
To make someone want to do something
24
4.1
To gently encourage someone to try something new
23
6.7
To persuade someone to do something after repeated effort
16
7.7
To strongly encourage someone to do something
15
7.7
To persuade someone to do something by gentle talk and praise
14
6.9
To urge someone to act by annoying or teasing them
12
8.1
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
8
3.6
To push someone a little to make them start doing something
5
3.4
To encourage someone to go faster or try harder
4
7.7
To persuade someone who does not want to do something to do it
1
6.0
To use influence to persuade someone to do something
1
6.5
Make someone decide or act sooner than they want
1
4.4
Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them
To make someone act because of a feeling or reason
Antonyms
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Morphology
impel = im + pel
Although historically analyzable as im- + pel, the root 'pel' is not a standalone English word and the prefix meaning is not transparently productive for learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from its parts.
Etymology
Impel comes from Latin parts in- 'into' and pellere 'to drive'. Think of it like propel, which means 'to push forward', so to impel someone is to 'drive' them into action, often by pressure or need.