Compelled vs. impelled

What does compelled mean?

Compelled means being forced or obliged to do something.

For example:

·      She was compelled to hand over the files.

What does impelled mean?

Impelled is used when someone is driven or urged to do something.

For example:

·      The lack of justice impelled the victims to take their case to court.

What’s the difference between compelled and impelled?

Compelled means being forced to do something with no choice in the matter while impelled is used when someone is convinced something must be done but still has a certain level of choice in the matter.

Compelled is used when an outside force is driving the decision, while impelled implies an inner drive or motive.

For example:

·      The court decision compelled her to hand over the files, which impelled her to forge documents to hide her fraud.