Compelled

Compelled is the past participle of compel and can function as an adjective meaning driven or obliged to take a course of action, typically due to external pressure, necessity, or a strong internal conviction. It can also describe a state of being forced to act, such as under threat, coercion, or legal requirement.

Etymology and forms: Compel comes from Latin compellere, meaning to drive together or force. In modern English, compelled is used both to describe action prompted by force and to indicate a sense of moral imperative that feels unavoidable. Related forms include compel (verb), compulsion (noun), and compelling (adjective meaning gripping or persuasive, not the same sense as compelled).

Usage and nuance: Compelled emphasizes external pressure or unavoidable necessity rather than mere desire. It is often used in formal or legal writing. It is not always synonymous with obliged or required; obliged can carry social or moral connotations, while compelled stresses force, constraint, or necessity that leaves little or no choice. The phrase compelled to do something is commonly paired with a to-infinitive, as in compelled to testify or compelled to leave.

Legal usage: In legal contexts, compellability refers to the capacity to be compelled to testify, reveal information, or comply with orders. A compellable witness is one who can be required by law to provide testimony; a non-compellable person cannot be forced in that particular context.

See also: coercion, duress, obligation, mandatory, compelled self-incrimination.

Examples: The suspect was compelled to provide a statement after the evidence was presented. She felt compelled to assist her neighbor during the crisis. The statute compelled disclosure of certain records.