Basic Details
Word: Compelled
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Forced someone to do something, or made it necessary; also felt that you must do something.
Synonyms: forced, obliged, made, pressed
Antonyms: allowed, permitted, excused
How to Spell Compelled
Syllables: com - pelled
Tricky part: Compel ends in a single l, but the l doubles when ed is added, because the stress falls on pel. Compeled is the usual slip.
Watch out for: compeled, compelld, compailed
Memory tip: Stress on the end means double the end: com-PEL becomes com-PELL-ed, just as re-BEL becomes re-BELL-ed.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The judge's sharp questions compelled the witness to tell the truth.
Example 2: I felt compelled to help the lost child find her parents.
Example 3: Lack of money compelled him to sell his bicycle.
Fun Fact
Compel comes from Latin compellere, to drive together, as a shepherd drives sheep into a pen. Propel and expel share the same pellere, to drive.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. compelled 2. obstinat 3. reluctent 4. vigourous
a) forced to do something
b) unwilling and slow to do something
c) strong, active and full of energy
d) stubborn and refusing to change
Show answer
a) forced to do something. Only compelled is correct; the others should be reluctant, obstinate and vigorous.
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to compelled as used in the sentence:
Strict new rules compelled every shop in the market to stop using plastic bags.
a) permitted
b) discouraged
c) forced
d) tempted
Show answer
c) forced. To be compelled is to be forced; permitted means only allowed.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
A broken ankle ledcopmle the captain to sit out the final.
a) propelled
b) compiled
c) compelled
d) complied
Show answer
c) compelled. The broken ankle forced the captain out, and with a double l and no i or r, compelled is the only option these letters make.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Heavy rain and a landslide on the highway compeled the bus driver to turn back towards Dehradun, and the passengers spent the night in a small roadside hotel.
a) roadside
b) landslide
c) compeled
d) passengers
Show answer
c) compeled. Because the stress falls on pel, its l doubles before ed.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If you feel compelled to help, you ____.
a) forget to help
b) are paid to help
c) feel that you must help
d) refuse to help
Show answer
c) feel that you must help
2. Which is the noun form of compel?
a) compulsion
b) compelment
c) compeltion
d) compellance
Show answer
a) compulsion
