Compel and Lay

Compel

Compel verb - To cause (a person) to give in to pressure.

Lay and compel are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Lay" instead a verb "Compel".

Nearby Words: compelling, compelled

Lay

Lay verb - To establish or apply as a charge or penalty.
Usage example: state officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet

Compel and lay are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Compel" instead a verb "Lay".

Nearby Words: laying, laid

Common collocations

people compel people lay people
body compel body lay body
dead compel dead lay dead
spirits compel spirits lay spirits

Both words in one sentence

  • Webcomic / Sinful Although normally a fine pursuit for a demon, Herbert's error lay in the fact that he used his powers to compel them into having sex with with him, rather than seducing them — making them rape victims rather than sinners.
Cite this Source
Lay and Compel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/compel/lay
Compel & Lay. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/compel/lay>.
Lay or Compel. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/compel/lay.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "compel" and "lay" have occurred on timeline