Impel vs. Compel — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Impel and Compel
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Definitions
Impel
To urge to action through moral pressure; drive
I was impelled by events to take a stand.
Compel
To force (a person) to do something; drive or constrain
The court compelled the company to pay full restitution. My conscience compels me to speak out.
Impel
To drive forward; propel.
Compel
To necessitate or require, as by force of circumstance; demand
Growing riots compelled the evacuation of the embassy.
Impel
(transitive) To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation.
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Compel
To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway
"The land, in a certain, very real way, compels the minds of the people" (Barry Lopez).
Impel
(transitive) To drive forward; to propel an object, to provide an impetus for motion or action.
Compel
To drive together, round up en
Impel
To drive or urge forward or on; to press on; to incite to action or motion in any way.
The surge impelled me on a craggy coast.
Compel
(transitive) To overpower; to subdue.
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Impel
Urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
Compel
(transitive) To force, constrain or coerce.
Logic compels the wise, while fools feel compelled by emotions.
Impel
Cause to move forward with force;
Steam propels this ship
Compel
(transitive) To exact, extort, (make) produce by force.
Compel
(obsolete) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
Compel
(obsolete) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
Compel
(obsolete) To call forth; to summon.
Compel
To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.
Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once.
And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross.
Compel
To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.
Commissions, which compel from eachThe sixth part of his substance.
Compel
To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled.
I compel all creatures to my will.
Compel
To gather or unite in a crowd or company.
Compel
To call forth; to summon.
She had this knight from far compelled.
Compel
To make one yield or submit.
Compel
Force or compel somebody to do something;
We compel all students to fill out this form
Compel
Make someone do something
