as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
in that class I read books under compulsion that I ordinarily wouldn't have considered
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Recent Examples of compulsion
About how making art is both a compulsion and a form of knowledge.
—
Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Because the consequences tend to creep in gradually — brain fog, irritability, dependence — users often miss when therapeutic use shifts into compulsion.
—Leah Willingham, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Mania of the week Ecdemomania — an abnormal compulsion to wander.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Court records show Sophie was charged with two counts of burglary, criminal trespassing, simple assault and rape forcible compulsion.
—Mike Stunson, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Helen Molesworth, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Because the consequences tend to creep in gradually — brain fog, irritability, dependence — users often miss when therapeutic use shifts into compulsion.
—Leah Willingham, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Mania of the week Ecdemomania — an abnormal compulsion to wander.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Court records show Sophie was charged with two counts of burglary, criminal trespassing, simple assault and rape forcible compulsion.
—Mike Stunson, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
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As priorities are refreshed and budgets defended, the pressure to demonstrate productivity in visible ways becomes the default response.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer The research team showed that thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer to a perovskite surface suppresses defect initiation from iodide loss and enhances long-term stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, late last week the city received notice that the organization was pulling their offer, citing capacity constraints.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Power availability has already emerged as a limiting factor for data center developers, with one analysis finding that constraints were extending construction timelines by 24 to 72 months.—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The move comes after Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney gave an address in Davos warning against economic coercion by the world’s superpowers.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
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Robberta Marie Khan, 29, of Euless, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement and faces up to 20 years in federal prison.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That warrant followed a separate September 2023 arrest on state charges, including assault on public safety personnel, third-degree assault, breach of peace, interfering with an officer and first-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, as noted in the release.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.—
Elena Moore,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Each of these impact sites stands testament to the violence of its creation — cataclysmic collisions that carved vast basins in the lunar surface, while hurling debris miles across the face of Earth's natural satellite.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Immigrants are now regularly blamed for taking resources from the state, driving an increase in gang and gun violence, and contributing to the country’s high unemployment rate—around eight per cent, twice that of the United States.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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