What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
impel
Example
The desire to help others impelled her to volunteer at the shelter. [impelled: past tense]
Example
The music impelled him to get up and dance. [impel: verb]
compel
Example
The law compels us to pay taxes. [compels: present tense]
Example
I felt compelled to speak up when I saw the injustice happening. [compelled: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Compel is more commonly used than impel in everyday language, especially in legal contexts. Impel is less common but can be used in various contexts to describe a strong urge or motivation to do something.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between impel and compel?
Both impel and compel can be used in formal or informal contexts, but compel is more commonly used in legal or official documents, making it slightly more formal than impel.
