com ‧ pel ‧ ling /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . compelling reason/argument/case etc an argument etc that makes you feel certain that something is true or that you must do something about it:
Lucy had no compelling reason to go into town.
The court was presented with compelling evidence that she’d murdered her husband.
2 . very interesting or exciting, so that you have to pay attention:
His life makes a compelling story.
3 . compelling need/desire/urge (to do something) a strong need, desire etc to do something, making you feel that you must do it:
He felt a compelling need to tell someone about his idea.
—compellingly adverb
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THESAURUS
▪ interesting keeping your attention and making you want to know more:
There’s an interesting article in the newspaper today.
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The lecture was really interesting.
▪ fascinating very interesting:
a fascinating subject
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Everything about ancient Egypt is absolutely fascinating.
▪ stimulating giving you new ideas or experiences in a way that is interesting and enjoyable:
a stimulating conversation
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I found him very stimulating to be with and full of ideas.
▪ intriguing interesting because of being unusual, mysterious, or unexpected, so that you want to find out more:
Their research has produced some intriguing results.
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These discoveries raise intriguing questions about the relationship between viral genes and the normal genes of the cell.
▪ absorbing/engrossing interesting in a way that keeps your attention completely or for a long time:
Growing your own vegetables can be an absorbing hobby.
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her engrossing first novel
▪ gripping/riveting/compelling used about a very interesting story, film etc that you feel you must keep reading or watching:
a gripping story of love and death
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He gives a riveting performance as a tough street cop.
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There is something compelling about his work.
▪ enthralling /ɪnˈθrɔːlɪŋ $ -ˈθrɒːl-/ very interesting and exciting – used especially about a performance you are watching or listening to:
Pakistan won an enthralling match by two wickets.
▪ spellbinding very interesting because of being so strange, unusual, or wonderful:
The book is a spellbinding tale of her life in China.
▪ I couldn’t put it down spoken used when saying that a book was so interesting that you could not stop reading it:
It’s a great book – I found that I couldn’t put it down.