# compel vs compete

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### compel
*verb · IPA /kəmˈpɛl/ · frequency rank #20,067*
To drive together, round up.

### compete
*verb · IPA /kəmˈpiːt/ · frequency rank #3,678*
To be in battle or in a rivalry with another for the same thing, position, or reward; to contend.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compel-vs-compete