compel

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“
In their motion to compel, they ask Judge Susan Illston to order Samsung to declare now whether it wants to cooperate with them in exchange for reduced damages and limited liability.

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Definitions (12)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. transitive verb To force, drive, or constrain: Duty compelled the soldiers to volunteer for the mission.
  2. transitive verb To necessitate or pressure by force; exact: An energy crisis compels fuel conservation. See Synonyms at force.
  3. transitive verb To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway: "The land, in a certain, very real way, compels the minds of the people” (Barry Lopez).

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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • "While the broadcast networks could not compel (the leaders) to agree to our proposal, the Canadian public certainly could," MacDonald said. —  Thestar.com - Home Page
  • I think this is a good thing-good for our political culture, which, as the American Founders saw, is complex and charged enough without attempting to compel or coerce religious belief or observance. —  Crosswalk.com - Home
  • It basically asks, but does not compel, the bankers to act kindlier toward millions of defaulting families. —  The Nation: Top Stories
  • 'Incitement' means to call for, compel, or persuade. —  Muti
  • On the other hand, you may simply understand low blood compel or hypotension. —  Find Free Articles - ArticlesBase
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

convince ·  fascinate ·  disturb ·  vivid ·  overwhelm ·  impressive ·  satisfy ·  powerful ·  inspire ·  seductive

Used in the same contextWord Family

compel:   compelling ·  compelled ·  compels
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English compellen, from Latin compellere : com-, com- + pellere, to drive; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English compellen, from Old French compellir = Provencal Portuguese compellir = Spanish compelir, compeler, from Latin compellere, conpellere, compel, urge, drive together, from com-, together, + pellere, past participle pulsus, drive: see pell, pulse. Hence compulsion, compulsory, etc. Cf. expel, impel, repel.
 

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/kəmˈpɛl/
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