compulsion

noun

com·​pul·​sion kəm-ˈpəl-shən 

1

a

: an act of compelling

tried to get them to cooperate without using compulsion

: the state of being compelled

He was acting under compulsion.

b

: a force that compels

2

: an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (such as excessive hand washing)

her compulsion to repeatedly check and recheck the stove to be certain that it is turned off

also : the act itself

Gambling is a compulsion with him.

Synonyms

• arm-twisting
• coercion
• constraint
• duress
• force
• pressure

Examples of compulsion in a Sentence

I gave in to one of my compulsions and ordered the chocolate dessert.

We should be able to get them to cooperate without using compulsion.

Recent Examples on the Web

His compulsion to take a rock and roll path also had a lot to do with girls. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 5 June 2025

This city, home to an industry drawing us by compulsion into a disembodied parareality—an industry whose costliest venture to date, the metaverse, was a $36 billion effort to rivet headsets to all our faces—remained obstinately physical, a place where danger and distress came at you. —Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025

The system continued, musing earnestly: Is this response born of love and wisdom, or is it born of compulsion? —D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025

This film left us thinking about big topics like truth, persuasion, and compulsion, positioning us alongside the filmmaker and leading us to want to talk and think about this film for hours. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English compulsion, compulsioun "coercion," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French compulsion, borrowed from Latin compulsiōn-, compulsiō, derivative, with the suffix of verbal action -tiōn-, -tiō, of compellere "to drive together, force to go, force (to a view, course of action)" (with -s- from past participle compulsus); (sense 2) translation of German Zwang — more at compel

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing compulsion

• under compulsion
• under no compulsion

Rhymes for compulsion

• avulsion
• convulsion
• emulsion
• expulsion
• impulsion
• propulsion
• repulsion
• revulsion
• microemulsion

Kids Definition

compulsion

noun

com·​pul·​sion kəm-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: an act of compelling : the state of being compelled

2

: a force that compels

3

: an irresistible persistent urge

felt a compulsion to eat

Medical Definition

compulsion

noun

com·​pul·​sion kəm-ˈpəl-shən 

: an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing)

also : the act itself compare obsession, phobia

Legal Definition

compulsion

noun

com·​pul·​sion kəm-ˈpəl-shən 

1

: an act of compelling (as by threat or intimidation)

specifically : coercion

a payment exacted by lawless compulsion

—E. A. Farnsworth and W. F. Young

2

: the state of being compelled

specifically : duress

Note: Compulsion can make a contract voidable or be a ground for damages or restitution. Compulsion may also be a defense to a criminal act.