compelling
adjective
com·pel·ling
kəm-ˈpe-liŋ 
: that compels: such as
a
: forceful
a compelling personality
a compelling desire
b
: demanding attention
for compelling reasons
The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.
c
: convincing
no compelling evidence
compellingly
adverb
Examples of compelling in a Sentence
The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.
He made a compelling argument.
I would need a very compelling reason to leave my job.
She had a compelling need to share what she had heard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Regulars know that cachet’s the least-compelling aspect of taking a plane of your own; convenience and comfort are much more important.
—
Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That disorienting time shift, into the far harsher historical world of 1855, Idaho, is what gives Burke’s book not just its spine but its compelling narrative shape.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026
Still, the findings open compelling new avenues of investigation into how GLP-1 drugs’ anti-inflammatory effects may help with other conditions such as heart failure, sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease, Said says.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compelling
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Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That disorienting time shift, into the far harsher historical world of 1855, Idaho, is what gives Burke’s book not just its spine but its compelling narrative shape.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2026
Still, the findings open compelling new avenues of investigation into how GLP-1 drugs’ anti-inflammatory effects may help with other conditions such as heart failure, sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease, Said says.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compelling
Cite this Entry
“Compelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compelling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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