Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb compel

2 senses of compel

Sense 1
compel, oblige, obligate -- (force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form")
       => induce, stimulate, cause, have, get, make -- (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa")

Sense 2
compel -- (necessitate or exact; "the water shortage compels conservation")
       => necessitate, ask, postulate, need, require, take, involve, call for, demand -- (require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent")