区别辨析compel、force、constrain与oblige

这些动词均含“迫使”之意。

compel : 指在法律、权力、力量或行动等的驱使下被迫而为。

• The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children.
  这项法律可强制父亲定期支付子女的费用。
• I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book.
  我觉得必须写信告诉你我是多么欣赏你的书。

force : 指用个人意志、权力、权威或暴力等，迫使他人改变看法或做本不愿做的事。

• The President was forced to resign.
  总统被迫辞职。
• I was forced to take a taxi because the last bus had left.
  最后一班公共汽车已经开走，所以我只好坐了一辆出租汽车。

constrain : 侧重施加约束力或有约束作用的影响，也指环境对人强加的影响迫使人去做某事，尤指受良心、情感等内在力量驱使去做某事。

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it.
  证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。

oblige : 指由于生理上或道德上的需要，促使某人做某事，也指有权威的人或机构迫使某人做某事，还可指在特定情况下被迫作出的反应。

• Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.
  法律规定父母必须送子女入学。
• The storm got worse and worse. Finally, I was obliged to abandon the car and continue on foot.
  暴风雨愈发猛烈，我最终不得不弃车步行。