adj

compelling

kuhm-PEH-lihng

adj

So interesting or convincing that it grabs and holds your attention.

"The documentary told a compelling story about survival."

"Her compelling argument won over the entire jury."

How to Use Compelling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPowerfully interesting or persuasive — hard to look away from or argue against.

Common pairings

compelling story compelling evidence compelling reason

more compelling comparative, compellings plural, most compelling superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The documentary told a _____ story about survival.

From compel plus the adjective ending -ing.

telling welling selling yelling felling spelling dwelling swelling smelling shelling gruelling modelling