compulsion

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noun com·pul·sion \ kəm-ˈpəl-shən \

Definition of compulsion

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.

See compulsion defined for English-language learners

See compulsion defined for kids

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 of compulsion from the Web

The hypocrisy of the Left and its complete disregard for the standard rules of engagement have created a reactionary movement that feels no compulsion to respond to slight and slander with etiquette and argument.

— david l. bahnsen, National Review, "A Profound Tension Point for Conservatives," 21 Aug. 2017
Yet sometimes this power calcifies into security compulsions and the need for everything to be just so, based on tradition and status quo.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Total Solar Eclipse Horoscope," 19 Aug. 2017
Largely drawn from Vinyl Freak, the column Corbett wrote for Downbeat for more than a decade, the collection offers insights into the compulsion to crate dig and discusses more than 200 rare and out-of-print LPs.

— emily wasielewski, Chicago Reader, "Do This / Arts Chicago Craft Beer Festival, Cirque Du Soleil: Luzia, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend," 21 July 2017
READ MORE: Brexit Is an Embrace of the Global Economy’s New Geography Messing Up Brexit British-American Trade Is Crucial in the Era of Brexit & Trump — Will Collier is an aerospace engineer by profession and a writer by compulsion.

— will collier, National Review, "Jacob Rees-Mogg Is Finally Having His Moment," 17 July 2017
To resist the compulsion to add to the pile-on and instead give others, particularly those incessantly shouted down or shouted over, the floor.

— whitney phillips, Time, "We Are All Internet Bullies," 30 June 2017
The wealthy also support cuts to government spending and social programs much more strongly than the rest of the public—which fits with their compulsion to spend millions on trying to buy academic legitimacy for unregulated capitalism.

— david sessions, New Republic, "The Rise of the Thought Leader," 28 June 2017
These obsessions and compulsions don't all bounce around in my mind at once, but there's always at least a small battery of them ring away in my brain.

— cecelia scheeler, Good Housekeeping, "What It Really Feels Like to Have OCD," 28 June 2017
Aggressiveness — unwillingness to share the road or a compulsion to command it — was cited as the No.

— linda robertson, miamiherald, "No turn signals? That drives these drivers mad," 20 June 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of compulsion

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compulsion-, compulsio, from Latin compellere to compel

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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compulsion Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

browbeating, bulldozing, bullying; fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence; squeeze, squeeze play; might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength; hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness; strain, stress

Near Antonyms

agreement, approval, consent, permission; convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

COMPULSION Defined for English Language Learners

compulsion

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noun

Definition of compulsion for English Language Learners

: a very strong desire to do something
: the act of using force or pressure to make someone do something
: the state of being forced to do something

COMPULSION Defined for Kids

compulsion

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noun com·pul·sion \ kəm-ˈpəl-shən \

Definition of compulsion for Students

1 :a very strong urge to do something

He felt a compulsion to say something.

2 :a force that makes someone do something

She was acting under compulsion.

3 :an act or the state of forcing an action

They got what they wanted through compulsion.

Medical Dictionary

compulsion

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noun com·pul·sion \ kəm-ˈpəl-shən \

medical Definition of compulsion

:an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing); also :the act itself — compare obsession, phobia

Law Dictionary

compulsion

play

noun com·pul·sion \ kəm-ˈpəl-shən \

legal Definition of compulsion

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.

Learn More about compulsion

See words that rhyme with compulsion Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for compulsion Spanish Central: Translation of compulsion Nglish: Translation of compulsion for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of compulsion for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about compulsion

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compulsion

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Examples of compulsion in a Sentence

Recent Examples of compulsion from the Web

Origin and Etymology of compulsion

compulsion Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

Phrases Related to COMPULSION

Related Phrases

COMPULSION Defined for English Language Learners

compulsion

Definition of compulsion for English Language Learners

COMPULSION Defined for Kids

compulsion

Definition of compulsion for Students

Medical Dictionary

compulsion

medical Definition of compulsion

Law Dictionary

compulsion

legal Definition of compulsion

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