1
as in pushes
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 drives
to set or keep in motion
the aircraft is propelled by a pair of turboprop engines
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of propels
This youthfulness, combined with an openness to innovation, propels the country’s rapid evolution.
—
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
The movie stars one of Rancho’s own, Jay Dee (frontman of Herencia de Patrones), as Chito, a young farm worker whose raw talent propels him from the fields to viral fame amid a new wave of Mexican-American music.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Given that the stock has been essentially flat since 2021, this next breakout effort could be the one that propels it decisively through prior highs — and beyond.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
The album’s debut propels eight new songs on the on Hot Latin Songs chart, which combines airplay, streaming data and digital sales into its ranking.
—Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the electric field also propels a flow of ions across the nanopore.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, her bloodlust propels her through a liminal purgatory called Otherworld, a desert plane of reality ravaged by war, rife with innocent victims, and haunted by rootless spirits like her.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
This is the question that propels Netflix’s Wayward, an extraordinary new series from the comedian and Feel Good creator Mae Martin.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
This fifth entry, while largely revolving around the past and the origins of Treadstone — including surprising ties to Bourne’s dad (Gregg Henry) — also propels the story into contemporary technological territory.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
The movie stars one of Rancho’s own, Jay Dee (frontman of Herencia de Patrones), as Chito, a young farm worker whose raw talent propels him from the fields to viral fame amid a new wave of Mexican-American music.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Given that the stock has been essentially flat since 2021, this next breakout effort could be the one that propels it decisively through prior highs — and beyond.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
The album’s debut propels eight new songs on the on Hot Latin Songs chart, which combines airplay, streaming data and digital sales into its ranking.
—Pamela Bustios, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, the electric field also propels a flow of ions across the nanopore.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, her bloodlust propels her through a liminal purgatory called Otherworld, a desert plane of reality ravaged by war, rife with innocent victims, and haunted by rootless spirits like her.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
This is the question that propels Netflix’s Wayward, an extraordinary new series from the comedian and Feel Good creator Mae Martin.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
This fifth entry, while largely revolving around the past and the origins of Treadstone — including surprising ties to Bourne’s dad (Gregg Henry) — also propels the story into contemporary technological territory.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propels
Verb
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This pushes Tony and Ziva to risk everything in order to save her and finally put an end to the conspiracy.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The video also pushes for universal healthcare.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After Fuller drives home to her palatial estate, two strangers in masks emerge from the bushes.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Mentorship drives both confidence and capability, even becoming a powerful tool to foster accessibility and belonging.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nguyen Nik Bonitto shoves the Jets' left tackle back into Justin Fields and Zach Allen crunches him from the interior on that third-down floater.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
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After being discovered, the woman shoves Lo's head into the wall, knocking her unconscious, and locks her away in a storage room deep within the yacht.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Fans will just have to be patient to see if anything moves forward.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
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If his execution moves forward, Jennings will be the 16th inmate executed in Florida this year, double the state's previous record.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The fat overload in astrocytes and microglia activates inflammatory pathways.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
-
In Ibadan, the biennial activates the New Culture Studio designed by Demas Nwoko (1970), exploring urban and architectural dimensions of confinement.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Propels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propels. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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