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Compel vs. Impel

Both compel and impel contain the idea of using physical or other force to cause something to be done.

Compel means to constrain someone in some way to yield or do what one wishes.

Example: to compel a debtor to pay
Example: Fate compels us to face danger and trouble.

Impel means to provide a strong motive or incentive toward a certain end.

Example: The wind impelled the ship.
Example: Curiosity impels her to ask questions.

It might help, in some instances, to think of impel as the carrot and compel as the stick.

Posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008, at 12:31 am

10 Comments

10 Responses to “Compel vs. Impel”

  1. Jim Hoppe says:
    February 3, 2011 at 1:58 am

    Within and Without:
    The motive force comes impelled from within or compelled from outside one’s self.

    Redundancy:
    It is redundant to say both “It might help” plus “in some instances”.
    It helps to think of impel as the carrot and compel as the stick. It really does.

    Reply
  2. Andrew says:
    March 1, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Carrot? I don’t see what you’re getting at with this analogy. How about compel is the gun and impel is the dollar?

    Reply
  3. cecmiami says:
    August 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm

    I see it this way:
    Impel would refer to a person being strongly motivated to take aggressive action. A parent’s love for his child and desire to protect the child could impel the parent to interfere with professionals who are trying to help the child, teachers etc.

    Compel would refer to someone being forced to do something against that person’s will.

    How’s that?

    Reply
    • Jane says:
      August 3, 2011 at 4:11 am

      Those are good examples.

      Reply
      • Victoria says:
        January 30, 2012 at 9:36 pm

        This last reference really helped me a lot. “Impel would refer to a person being strongly motivated to take aggressive action.” Where as “Compel would refer to someone being forced to do something against that person’s will.” Thank you cecmiami!!

        Reply
  4. Dixie says:
    February 1, 2012 at 6:26 am

    Loved your carrot and stick analogy!

    Reply
  5. Skip Harris says:
    September 9, 2012 at 10:12 am

    I have heard the term (and used it myself) “compelling proposition” or “compelling offer” as in: 12 months of High Speed Internet, Digital Video and Home Phone service for only $49/mo from Cox Cable is a very compelling offer.

    In that case I have presumed compelling was describing an “incentive” (carrot) and not a stick.

    What am I missing in you analogy of carrot vs. stick?

    Reply
    • Jane says:
      September 11, 2012 at 1:02 pm

      In your example the word compelling is an adjective meaning convincing or requiring urgent attention. The analogy doesn’t work the same way when you are using an adjective form as it does with the verbs compel and impel.

      Reply

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