Impel

/ɪmˈpɛl/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To urge a person; to press on; to incite to action or motion via intrinsic motivation.
2. (transitive) To drive forward; to propel an object, to provide an impetus for motion or action.

Example Sentences

She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid,[…]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.

I feel impelled to reply to Roger Henry's letter about my article on being denied an apartment. I truly resent any insinuation that I "slunk back into that rotting old closet."

Concern for the common good should impel us to find ways to overcome the devilish impact of these disastrous policies […]

The wind impelled the kayaks toward the shore.

Synonyms for impel

Antonyms for impel

Related Words

Word Forms

• impels
• impelling
• impelled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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