Words / C1

k-uh-m-PEL-ing/kəmˈpelɪŋ/

Compelling means very convincing or hard to ignore: a compelling case, compelling evidence, a compelling story. Compulsory means you must do it. Compel is the verb (force). Convincing is a close synonym for arguments.

Meaning

Very convincing, or so strong that it is hard to ignore.

Examples

• “She made a compelling case for extra funding.”
• “The photographs made a compelling argument for the ban.”
• “It is a compelling novel, even if the ending fails.”

Good to know

a compelling case/evidence. Mix-up: compulsory (required). Verb: compel.

Near in meaning

convincing

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