compel impel

[kpkroy]

it's hard for me to understand the difference between

compel

and

impel

the definitions all look the same- and so do the example sentences

how do these two words differ?

thanks.

 

[banderas]

it's hard for me to understand the difference between

compel

and

impel

the definitions all look the same- and so do the example sentences

how do these two words differ?

thanks.

impel means to urge or encourage while compel means to take action as a result of pressure or coercion; impel is very similar in meaning to compel but suggests even more strongly an inner drive to do something and often a greater urgency in the desire to actSource: Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
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* = informal or slang