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I just came across a situation where a word meaning "having the quality of being compelling" would have been useful. The sentence was along the lines of:

He argued his case passionately. I think this demonstrates the [compellingness] of Yale's philosophy degrees!

I could've paraphrased to something like:

He argued his case passionately. I think this demonstrates how compelling Yale's philosophy degrees are!

.. but in this case I think it would've made the whole sentence more clunky. What I came up with in the end was 'vigor', but I don't like it; is there a word which more closely resembles 'compellingness' (which itself doesn't sound like a word to me, and the dictionary seems to back that up)?

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closed as not a real question by onomatomaniak, Mehper C. Palavuzlar, FumbleFingers, kiamlaluno, Jasper Loy Oct 22 '11 at 21:41


Why would you call the degree compelling in the first place? Seems like an odd choice of words to me. More context might help. –  onomatomaniak Oct 19 '11 at 11:32
I'll give it a while for OP to clarify. If not I'll vote to close because I have no idea what OP means by saying Harvard's computer science degrees are vigorous and compelling, apart from the implication that he thinks well of them. –  FumbleFingers Oct 19 '11 at 12:22
@FumbleFingers The fact that the two words are nowhere close to synonyms doesn't help matters, either. –  onomatomaniak Oct 19 '11 at 12:36
I agree with @FumbleFingers here. The only way I can see for a degree to be compelling is if it "evokes attention" when spotted on a resume, or if it forces you to make a decision for a candidate with a Harvard degree over one from another school. Which do you mean, Jez? –  JeffSahol Oct 19 '11 at 12:37
@JeffSahol I'm using the following definition of "compelling": having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect. –  Jez Oct 19 '11 at 22:14

4 Answers 4

up vote 5 down vote accepted

I think this demonstrates the compelling nature of Harvard's computer science degrees!

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Irresistibility? Or perhaps allure?

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Perhaps cogency fits the bill?

EDIT: compelling nature would work well too. Must not have looked again before editing.

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The word you're looking for is compelling, as it best suits the context. Here's another word that may suit.


Attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm.

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The word he's looking for, whatever it may be, is a noun. –  Random832 Oct 19 '11 at 19:32
