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

Rather, the id was the animalistic compulsion to seek pleasure and satisfy impulses. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023

Ironically, the neuroscience in Sapolsky’s book suggests that the truth about compulsion may support Hume’s view. —Kieran Setiya, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2023

But the volume of school shooting hoaxes may also suggest a kind of compulsion. —Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2023

Nuclear deterrence, after all, does not demand nuclear superiority; the compulsion felt among many in Washington to build up is a product, instead, of how the United States has done nuclear strategy since the 1960s. —Ankit Panda, The New Republic, 24 Oct. 2023

Put your money in sectors that cater to a svelte and sated brand of consumer, and get out of the ones that rely on excess and compulsion. —Damian Garde, STAT, 18 Oct. 2023

The phone had become a compulsion lately, his mother said. —Chris Moody, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023

Now, many of those lawyers are women, because there is no money and no glory in it—nothing, except the compulsion to help somebody. —Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023

But here’s the thing: his chronic compulsion to fabricate is alive and well. —Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023

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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 no compulsion
• under compulsion

• under no compulsion
• under compulsion

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.