Allow
Allow verb - To give permission for or to approve of.
Compel
Compel verb - To cause (a person) to give in to pressure.
Usage example: public opinion compelled her to fire her scandal-plagued aide
Nearby Words: compelling, compelled
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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Maxing out their friendship toward you will allow them to learn new skills, and will compel them to leave parting letters and gifts when you decide to fuse them.
Source: Pals with Jesus -
Thom and Duke Roger from the same universe's "Song of the Lioness" were intended to be a couple (something had to compel Thom to bring Roger Back from the Dead, after all), but the publisher wouldn't allow it.
Source: Hide Your Lesbians - It can be used by those without magical power of their own through Blood Magic (though full magicians can use that more easily), it can allow any mage to compel spirits regardless of their element, and also allows dealing with elementals of the Dark, such as ice elementals and trolls.
Source: Literature / Elemental Masters
Cite this Source
Compel and Allow. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/allow/compel
Allow & Compel. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/allow/compel>.
Compel or Allow. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/allow/compel.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "allow" and "compel" have occurred on timeline