1
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
playfully he propelled his rambunctious friend into the swimming pool to cool off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to move
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of propel
Hopkins’ self-awareness illuminated the hockey smarts that could propel him even further.
—
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 July 2025
The Brewers are certainly an excellent team, but would one big bat really propel them to World Series contender status?
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
If a single song can't propel the right emotional forward motion, maybe a dozen will do so, in the form of a riotous medley.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
But, despite his many accomplishments, love is at the center of Forrest's journey, with his affection for his mother (Sally Field) and his childhood love, Jenny (Robin Wright), propelling him forward.
—Sophie Van Bastelaer, EW.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for propel
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 July 2025
The Brewers are certainly an excellent team, but would one big bat really propel them to World Series contender status?
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
If a single song can't propel the right emotional forward motion, maybe a dozen will do so, in the form of a riotous medley.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
But, despite his many accomplishments, love is at the center of Forrest's journey, with his affection for his mother (Sally Field) and his childhood love, Jenny (Robin Wright), propelling him forward.
—Sophie Van Bastelaer, EW.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for propel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propel
Verb
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Why some tattoo artists push back against AI tattoo machines Of course, not everyone is excited about this change.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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The change, which was approved by commissioners and signed into law by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, pushes the upcoming November 2025 general election to November 2026.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
Verb
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As reported by The Athletic, an agreement for the 20-year-old Japan international was reached for £5million ($6.8m, 1billion Japanese yen), which represents a record fee for a player in the J League — the top division of Japanese football — moving overseas.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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Crisis response is best handled when teams move together.—
Matthew Polega,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Over a century and a half after he was fooled and shoved into an airlock in the season-two finale, Day is not absolutely done with everything.—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
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The order, issued July 10, follows evidence of over 35 incidents in which reporters were allegedly shoved, tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets, or arrested while documenting protests in downtown Los Angeles throughout June.—
Amanda Castro
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Gomber got the dangerous De La Cruz to ground into a fielder’s choice, but Austin Hayes drove an RBI single up the middle to score Friedl, tying the game 2-2.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
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Some drove for hours to get there, while others simply walked in off the street.—
Rachel Pearson,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
Verb
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When Kate met William at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, she and her family, including siblings Pippa and James, were thrust into the public eye and entered the royal circle.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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However, they were thrust into the public eye in April 2023 when a courier operating in the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville sold the winning ticket for a $95 million Texas Lotto jackpot.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Verb
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The couple successfully activate the code and crawl through a tunnel to freedom, only to discover that the entire city has been sealed inside the same black brick structures.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
11 July 2025
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The Network then will activate its many participants to collaborate and engage together to advance solutions and designs of new processes, or mechanisms, or even technologies that are needed to not only benefit each individual employer organization but also the overall talent ecosystem.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Takashi Shimura beautifully portrays Kanji Watanabe, an aging bureaucrat with stomach cancer who is impelled to find meaning in his final days.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
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Four years later, a toxic waste spill led the mine to close altogether, and intense Chinese competition impelled the decision not to reopen.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propel. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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