While both "force" and "compel" suggest making someone do something against their will, there's a subtle but important difference. "Force" implies using physical strength or power to make someone act, often against their wishes and possibly resulting in harm. "Compel," on the other hand, suggests a stronger, more indirect pressure, often involving moral, legal, or circumstantial obligation. It's less about brute strength and more about the irresistible nature of the situation or the compelling reasons given.

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:

• Force:

  • "He forced the door open." (He used physical strength to open the door.)
  • "They forced him to confess." (They used coercion, maybe threats or violence, to make him confess.)

• Compel:

  • "The evidence compelled the jury to reach a guilty verdict." (The evidence made it unavoidable for the jury to convict.)
  • "I feel compelled to help those in need." (A strong moral sense makes me want to assist.)

Notice that in the examples with "force," there is often a sense of violence or unpleasantness, whereas "compel" suggests a stronger persuasion or obligation, even if it's unwanted. The action of compelling someone doesn't always imply resistance, as it may be the result of undeniable evidence or a strong inner conviction.

Another key difference lies in the objects they take. "Force" can be used with a direct object (something being forced) and an indirect object (the person or thing being forced to do something). "Compel," however, generally only takes an indirect object – the person being compelled. You compel someone to do something, not compel something directly.

Let's look at one more example to highlight this. You could say "The strong wind forced the tree to fall," (direct object: tree, indirect object: implied, the wind acting upon the tree) but you would not say "The strong wind compelled the tree to fall." In this case, you'd say "The strong wind compelled the tree's fall." (The strong wind caused the effect.) Happy learning!