An act of compulsion; an obliging somebody to do something.
"The judge issued a compelling order that forced the witness to testify despite her objections."
In plain English: A compelling argument is something so convincing that it makes you want to agree with it immediately.
"The compelling nature of his story kept everyone listening until sunrise."
present participle of compel
"The judge's compelling question made the witness hesitate before answering."
In plain English: To compel someone means to force them to do something they don't want to because you have enough power over them.
"The lawyer's arguments were so compelling that no jury could doubt their client's innocence."
Strongly or irresistibly evoking interest or attention.
"The detective's compelling testimony left no doubt in the jury's mind about what really happened."
In plain English: Compelling means something so interesting and convincing that it makes you want to pay attention immediately.
"The detective presented such compelling evidence that the jury was convinced immediately."
Usage: Use compelling as the adjective form when describing evidence, arguments, or stories that are so strong they cannot be ignored. Do not confuse it with compulsory, which refers only to rules requiring action rather than things that naturally attract attention.
The word is formed by adding the suffix "-ing" to the verb compel. It entered English through a straightforward combination of these parts rather than borrowing from another language or undergoing a significant meaning shift over time.