1
as in convincing
having the power to persuade
made a compelling argument against military intervention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
no compelling need to raise taxes at this time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of compelling
Mike Jones, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
A certain recalcitrance has always been part of what makes Rosalía so compelling.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025
And yet, today, a few pieces of evidence are compelling us to reconsider this scenario.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Adjective
Here are the most compelling storylines to follow in each of this weekend’s playoff contests.
—Verb
Even prior to Preservé’s arrival, the Motiva implants had begun fueling a shift in the way some surgeons perform breast augmentation, compelling them to more frequently place implants on top of the chest muscle instead of underneath it, as has been customary for decades.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for compelling
Adjective
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In the face of it all, their promises of kickstarting a technological revolution that could one day be immensely profitable remain convincing enough for investors to prop up sky-high valuations — at least for now.—
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Their 3-year-old has a very convincing reason.—
Adjective
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And there is another urgent area requiring our attention.—
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The administration’s enthusiasm to improve America’s health has real, urgent promise.—
Verb
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That simple change would introduce real competition, allowing merchants to choose lower-cost options and forcing the dominant players to compete on price and service--just like any other market.—
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Jackson remains optimistic that Medicaid cuts will spur a public backlash against lawmakers, forcing Congress to reverse Medicaid cuts before additional layoffs are necessary.—
Adjective
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No conclusive plan has been formed to either engage in talks with another professional sports team or repurpose the current site of Arrowhead Stadium – though Lucas and LeVota, respectively, said the city and county could explore both in the next five years.—
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While there is no conclusive evidence indicating a best time to drink aloe vera gel for digestive health, consuming it at specific times may support different health goals.—
Adjective
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But even for regional agencies, data gaps remain acute, forcing reliance on third-party proxies that flatten economic complexity.—
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In Clayton’s and Josephson’s hands, though, the fawn response becomes something more pliable, less a sign of acute threat than a broadly anxious orientation to the world.—
Verb
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This would likely mean seizing more resources inside Yemen—for example, by capturing the oil-rich governorate of Marib east of Sanaa—or by coercing Saudi Arabia into offering new financial concessions.—
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There were more damning allegations made by Burrowes against Diddy, which included Combs coercing Burrowes to make changes in Biggie’s record deal with Bad Boy to make the terms more lucrative and favorable for the label.—
Adjective
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Also at tight end, Jackson Verdugo, who had a strong freshman season, is due back, and FIU signed incoming freshmen Davis Brown and Ayden Passley.—
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Nicole says Hannah did get better and stronger — strong enough that Hannah's neurologist told her the whole story.—
Verb
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After obliging, the rapper started to riff by adding some new insults.—
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Even in that short call, Paulson masterfully rides a roller coaster of emotion, from being starstruck over Crawford, bullied into skipping her big moment, to obliging her out of pity.—
Cite this Entry
“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compelling. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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