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
Writing arrived as a compulsion, transmuting grief into something palatable and art-like, like a View-Master stereoscope with kaleidoscope slides.
—
Eli Raphael, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
The episodes will focus on the interview subject’s compulsion to create, an obsession for Mason who grew up with a stepfather who was a portrait artist.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
That last sentence springs straight from Melville’s first chapter — for him, and for Wilson, too, a schoolboy’s compulsion toward the sea is no different from an artist’s to make art.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Writing, on the other hand, is my lifeline—a compulsion, a joy, and sometimes agony.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Eli Raphael, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
The episodes will focus on the interview subject’s compulsion to create, an obsession for Mason who grew up with a stepfather who was a portrait artist.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
That last sentence springs straight from Melville’s first chapter — for him, and for Wilson, too, a schoolboy’s compulsion toward the sea is no different from an artist’s to make art.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Writing, on the other hand, is my lifeline—a compulsion, a joy, and sometimes agony.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
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Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools faced mounting pressure to raise test scores, creating a fundamental tension between learning time and and play time.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Turbulent emotions can stir up physical stress when the Leo moon puts pressure on Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Noun
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My only entry point was Kendrick's vote of confidence, more notable for the fact that the honor had thus far gone only to his cousin Baby Keem (who this year released a great record beholden to event-album constraints).—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
16 June 2026
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Prices can sit relatively quiet for months or even years before a surge in investor demand, supply constraints or economic uncertainty sends them sharply higher.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
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But its owner also used coercion and violence against Native Americans, according to John Fraser, the Capitol District superintendent for California State Parks.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
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There’s the section of Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando where approximately 500 Klansmen, led by officers on horseback, walked slowly in a long line intended as a clear act of intimidation against voters.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
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When multiple employees independently describe experiences involving intimidation or retaliation after voicing concerns, those claims deserve serious attention.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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South African and Malawian authorities have been coordinating in recent weeks to facilitate the repatriation of thousands of Malawian citizens gathered at the site in Durban, claiming to flee anti-migrant tensions and fears of violence.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
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The attack on James came in the midst of a sharp rise in anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa in recent months, when there have been marches calling for immigrants in the country illegally to leave and reports of violence against some foreign nationals.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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