compelling

[kuh m-pel-ing] /kəmˈpɛl ɪŋ/

adjective

tending to compel; overpowering:

compelling reasons.

having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect:

a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama.

Origin

1490-1500; compel + -ing²

Related forms

uncompelling, adjective

compel

[kuh m-pel] /kəmˈpɛl/

verb (used with object), compelled, compelling.

to force or drive, especially to a course of action:

His disregard of the rules compels us to dismiss him.

to secure or bring about by force.

to force to submit; subdue.

to overpower.

Archaic. to drive together; unite by force; herd.

verb (used without object), compelled, compelling.

to use force.

to have a powerful and irresistible effect, influence, etc.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English compellen (< Anglo-French) < Latin compellere to crowd, force, equivalent to com- com- + pellere to push, drive

Related forms

compellable, adjective

compellably, adverb

compellent, adjective

compeller, noun

compellingly, adverb

precompel, verb (used with object), precompelled, precompelling.

uncompellable, adjective

uncompelled, adjective

Can be confused

coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige (see synonym study at oblige)

compel, impel (see synonym study at the current entry)

compelled, impelled.

Synonyms

1. constrain, oblige, coerce. Compel, impel agree in the idea of using physical or other force to cause something to be done. Compel means to constrain someone, in some way, to yield or to do what one wishes: to compel a recalcitrant debtor to pay; Fate compels us to face danger and trouble. Impel may mean literally to push forward, but is usually applied figuratively, meaning to provide a strong motive or incentive toward a certain end: Wind impels a ship. Curiosity impels me to ask. 3. overpower, bend.

Examples from the web for compelling

Now a compelling new voice had uncorked all that bottled-up generational restlessness.
Thanks so much for the information you have provided me concerning his life's compelling story outside of baseball.
As if their compelling native characteristics had been replaced by ersatz versions.
Focus your answer on what you find compelling about them rather than on what they should find compelling about you.
For researchers, offshore relations are often more compelling than local connections.
If you want to write compelling literature, you don't go to graduate school.
But that drama element makes it more compelling to watch and play.
The harmonies are slightly befuddled and the playing is enjoyable but not entirely compelling.
His friendliness, compelling at first, could suddenly turn sour.
There are an infinite number of answers to this important question, which is what makes reading so compelling.

British Dictionary definitions for compelling

compelling

/kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/

adjective

arousing or denoting strong interest, esp admiring interest

(of an argument, evidence, etc) convincing

compel

/kəmˈpɛl/

verb (transitive) -pels, -pelling, -pelled

to cause (someone) by force (to be or do something)

to obtain by force; exact: to compel obedience

to overpower or subdue

(archaic) to herd or drive together

Derived Forms

compellable, adjective
compellably, adverb
compeller, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin compellere to drive together, from com- together + pellere to drive

Word Origin and History for compelling

adj.

c.1600, present participle adjective from compel. Meaning "irresistible" is from 1901. Related: Compellingly.

compel

mid-14c., from Old French compellir, from Latin compellere "to drive together, drive to one place" (of cattle), "to force or compel" (of persons), from com- "together" (see com-) + pellere "to drive" (see pulse (n.1)). Related: Compelled; compelling.