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   compel

   /kəmˈpɛl/

   verb

   • 1. force or oblige (someone) to do something: "a sense of duty compelled Harry to answer her questions" Similar forcecoerce intopressurize intopressureimpeldrivepresspushurgeprevail ondragoon intobrowbeat intobully intobludgeon intointimidate intoterrorize intoobligerequireput under an obligationleave someone no option but tomakeinformal:bulldozerailroadsteamrollertwist someone's armstrong-armlean onput the screws onarchaic:constrainexactextortdemandinsist onenforceforcenecessitatearchaic:constrain
   • ▪ bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure: "they may compel a witness's attendance at court by issue of a summons"
   • ▪ force to come or go in a particular direction: "by heav'n's high will compell'd from shore to shore"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Latin compellere, from com- ‘together’ + pellere ‘drive’.

   Scrabble Points: 12

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

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