compulsion
noun
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Definition of compulsion
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Synonyms for compulsion
Synonyms
arm-twisting, coercion, constraint, duress, force, pressure
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Examples of compulsion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But not all social behaviors are entirely under individual mental control, and not all compulsions are just individual choices contorted into pathological obsession. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, "Why Is There a ‘Gaming Disorder’ But No ‘Smartphone Disorder?’," 28 June 2018 Viola’s an easy sell—a badass, successful lesbian who projects confidence, but is also dealing (or not dealing) with her own destructive compulsions. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "'The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls' Is a Stunning Debut From Anissa Gray," 1 Apr. 2019 According to her coworkers, that compulsion presents itself in obsessive preparation. — Vanessa Chow, Glamour, "Introducing Kate McKinnon, Movie Star," 26 June 2018 And responding to these sorts of compulsions in such a matter-of-fact way also reinforces them, in a way. — Kavin Senapathy, SELF, "If You Love Someone With OCD, You May Need to Stop Reassuring Them That Everything Is OK," 19 July 2018 Its themes—obsession, compulsion, control and guilt—were Hitchcock’s themes. — John Anderson, WSJ, "The Heights of Obsession," 22 Feb. 2019 And yet, when the caliga was on the other foot, Christians had different opinions about religious oppression and compulsion. — Tom Bissell, New York Times, "Why Did Christianity Prevail?," 13 Feb. 2018 In total, 27 countries in the world mandate that their citizens vote, and the degree to which compulsion is enforced varies. — Chayenne Polimedio, Vox, "Is voting a civic right or a civic duty?," 6 Nov. 2018 Partly that’s due to the straightforward virtuosity of his playing, and partly to his compulsion to transcend and blend styles. — New York Times, "13 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 31 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compulsion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for compulsion
compulsion
noun
English Language Learners Definition of compulsion
See the full definition for compulsion in the English Language Learners Dictionary
compulsion
noun
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Kids Definition of compulsion
compulsion
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Medical Definition of compulsion
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compulsion
noun
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Legal Definition of compulsion
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.
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