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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compulsion
The compulsion to check emails late at night has diminished, and our company culture now fosters rest and recovery just as much as ambition and drive.
—
Adam Stott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Again, this is where a lot of people get trapped, either out of boredom or a compulsion to self-destruct.
—Olivia Petter, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
Therapy involves asking patients to experience their stress and anxiety without performing a compulsion in response.
—Christina Caron, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In a free society, the marketplace of ideas should be supported by choice, not compulsion.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Adam Stott, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Again, this is where a lot of people get trapped, either out of boredom or a compulsion to self-destruct.
—Olivia Petter, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025
Therapy involves asking patients to experience their stress and anxiety without performing a compulsion in response.
—Christina Caron, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In a free society, the marketplace of ideas should be supported by choice, not compulsion.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
-
China is planning to conduct an in-flight escape test at maximum dynamic pressure later this year.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
-
The report also comes as Trump seeks to turn up the pressure on Joe Biden.—
Haisten Willis,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The team is already looking to expand the model to account for real-world constraints, such as regional resource availability, cost, and lifecycle performance.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Democratic governors pointed to financial constraints and anticipated federal funding cuts as primary reasons for reversing course.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
That the use of the tapes and threat of exposure of those tapes to get the women to comply with what Diddy wanted to do is an element of coercion in and of itself.—
Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
-
But since the end of World War II, American power has been rooted mostly in cooperation, not coercion.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
The mayor has also called for peaceful protests and condemned any violence in reaction to immigration initiatives set in motion by the White House.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
-
The inclusion of Haiti in the U.N.’s report came after lobbying that what was occurring inside the country was more than just mere gang violence.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share