compelling
Americanadjective
-
tending to compel, as to force or push toward a course of action; overpowering.
There were compelling reasons for their divorce.
-
having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect.
a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama.
adjective
-
arousing or denoting strong interest, esp admiring interest
-
(of an argument, evidence, etc) convincing
Other Word Forms
- uncompelling adjective
Etymology
Origin of compelling
Explanation
Compelling means attractive, or irresistible, or really, really convincing. You know your argument for backpacking across Europe is compelling when your parents not only let you go but also pay for all your expenses. To compel is to drive or force into action –– the way the fear of being grounded might compel you to come home before your curfew. A compelling argument compels you to agree with its logic –– it's irresistible. If you decide to run for class president, you'll need to write a compelling speech about why students should vote for you.
Vocabulary lists containing compelling
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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25 Words from "Baseball and Black History"
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Word Generation Social Studies - Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One of those headwinds is that “a compelling show” can be a relative term.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
NDR acknowledges that AI-driven electricity demand should remain a long-term tailwind for utilities, but say “income alone is no longer a compelling reason to invest in the sector.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026
That closed loop—a compelling business in the current environment—appears undervalued, with Gold.com sporting a $1.3 billion market capitalization and trading at just 13 times earnings.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
Nevertheless, there is already a compelling argument that McIlroy is the greatest player to emerge from Europe.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
The chance to see Minnie was compelling in itself.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
