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

2 senses of impel

Sense 1
impel, force -- (urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate)
       => cause, do, make -- (give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident")

Sense 2
propel, impel -- (cause to move forward with force; "Steam propels this ship")
       => move, displace -- (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant")

Antonyms of adj impelling

1 sense of impelling

Sense 1
impelling -- (markedly effective as if by emotional pressure; "impelling skill as a teller of tales"; "an impelling personality")

INDIRECT (VIA effective) -> ineffective, uneffective, ineffectual -- (not producing an intended effect; "an ineffective teacher"; "ineffective legislation")

Similarity of adj impelling

1 sense of impelling

Sense 1
impelling -- (markedly effective as if by emotional pressure; "impelling skill as a teller of tales"; "an impelling personality")
       => effective (vs. ineffective), effectual, efficacious -- (producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective teaching methods"; "effective steps toward peace"; "made an effective entrance"; "his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"; "an efficacious law")