PROPELLED Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

propelled

verb

past tense of propel

as in pushed

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

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as in drove

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of propelled Six years later, the Cougars upset top-ranked and reigning national champion Miami 28-21 in a game that propelled Ty Detmer to the Heisman Trophy. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Her album spent 11 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and, for the first time, propelled the artist to Number One on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. — Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026 This is the first time in its history that the company has exceeded 100 trillion won, propelled by booming AI demand. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Zaslav and the Warner board drove a hard bargain, rejecting a series of takeover offers by Paramount CEO David Ellison that started at $18 a share in cash with the offer propelled ever higher by the determined Ellison. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 Keaton Wagler, whose sensational freshman season propelled Illinois to its first Final Four in 21 years, is preparing for the NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 But three months into their deployment to patrol Middle Eastern troubled waters, the president’s abrupt decision to attack Iran propelled the ship into hostile waters. — Roger Archibald, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 The album propelled Bad Bunny to the top of the Billboard 200 (for the fourth time), and to headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, something only two other Latin acts — Jennifer Lopez and Shakira — have accomplished. — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026 Instead, there are sneakers, T-shirts, and leggings—and dancers who stalk, slouch, flirt, and spring across the stage, propelled by Robert Prince’s rollicking jazz score. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for propelled

Verb

As the investigation uncovers a string of killings linked to a strange ritual, the two are pushed into working together, facing down otherworldly threats as well as unfinished business from Lan’s past.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Upon further investigation, officers determined the two had been allegedly pushed from a balcony, the NYPD said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of pushed

Verb

Although robust buyer demand briefly drove yields down to session lows following the auction, yield levels above 5% remain substantially higher than the historical norm over the past decade.

— , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
The suit says Her displayed doctored, sexualized photos of Henry and other officers, including in Henry's own office, and drove unannounced to a golf simulator in Woodbury where Henry was spending personal time.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of drove

Verb

During the scuffle, a loud smack is heard as the officer who shoved her appears to punch her in the face.

— Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Early in the Minnesota Vikings’ 15-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson appeared to be shoved into Hill, who was knocked to the ground.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of shoved

Verb

This week, SpaceX moved one step closer to its goal of building its direct-to-device Starlink Mobile service after the FCC approved the aerospace company’s application to deploy and operate 15,000 next-generation Starlink satellites.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
On the day Erica and Peter moved into 150 Charles, their attorney claims, they were greeted with a cluttered and dirty space that didn’t square with the $26,000-a-month rent.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of moved

Verb

Plucky teenager Satoko Nakai (Himeno) is first introduced with a nebulizer thrust up her nose.

— James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Streets follows an East LA street racing crew thrust into a dangerous, high-stakes hunt across Southern California, where every turn presents a new clue and a potential disaster.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrust

Verb

The heavy rainfall activated the desert’s biological material, known as germplasm — seeds, bulbs and tubers but also the eggs of various invertebrates and reptiles.

— Nayara Batschke, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Officials said they will only be activated when a vehicle is traveling 11 miles or more over the speed limit.

— Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of activated

Verb

Some fifteen years later, her determination to study Schubert lieder with expert teachers was in large part what impelled her to go to Europe.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
Despite the challenges, many candidates are impelled by the desire to steer political discourse toward civility and issues that matter most to ordinary citizens.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of impelled

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propellants

propelled

propelling

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“Propelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propelled. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of propelled

verb

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