impel

3 antonyms for impel — opposites grouped by meaning.

Verb — To push someone strongly to do something, driven by their own inner motivation.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To push someone strongly to do something, driven by their own inner motivation.

“I feel impelled to reply to Roger Henry's letter about my article on being denied an apartment. I truly resent any insinuation that I "slunk back into that rotting old closet."”

propel force

Opposites

restrain

2. verb

To push something forward or set it in motion.

“The wind impelled the kayaks toward the shore.”

Opposites

retard delay

Antonyms

restrain retard delay

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English impellen, borrowed from Latin impellō.

Full origin of impel →

People also searched

force delay retard restrain propel

Nearby words

impedance
impede
impediment
impelling
impending
impenetrability

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