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
The latest evidence of his compulsion is Twilight Override, a 30-song triple-album released last fall under his own name.
—
Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
But the man had a normal level of intelligence and lacked any compulsion to injure himself.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
When someone feels the compulsion to constantly bring it up for another 30 years is a sign that something could be wrong with their capacity to reason maturely.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
But the man had a normal level of intelligence and lacked any compulsion to injure himself.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Written by Mescudi, Doe explores themes of addiction and survival through the lens of a man living on the streets of Hollywood who, over the course of 24 hours, drifts through a series of encounters that pull him in and out of the cycles of his compulsion.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
When someone feels the compulsion to constantly bring it up for another 30 years is a sign that something could be wrong with their capacity to reason maturely.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
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Small-town social pressure could be a useful tool, too.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
Zelenskyy vowed to keep pressure on Moscow to make concessions in talks.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Operational constraints around the stadium—safety rules, logistics workarounds, matchday procedures—lived almost entirely in the heads of a few senior staff.—
Shivaas Gulati,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
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Although quite a few movies have taken place against the whirl of the Cannes Film Festival, only a handful have been shot within sanctioned festival spaces — often because of artistic, logistical and financial constraints.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Smith further argued that mailing the drug without in-person screenings leaves women without adequate medical oversight or evaluation for contraindications, coercion, and other health concerns.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
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By the same principle, public discourse is authentic only when no participant is excluded, no opinion is forbidden, and no one is subjected to coercion.—
Adam Kirsch,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Noun
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In Ross Township, the race between Jones and Blackmon featured reports of intimidation and social media sniping.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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The group also expressed concern over allegations that Carmen Teresa Navas, described as an elderly woman, had been subjected to intimidation and warnings by state officials while advocating for information about her son.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Throughout his coaching career, Kerr has used his platform to speak out against gun violence and social injustice, among other prominent issues.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
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Throughout his coaching career, Kerr has used his platform to speak out against gun violence and social injustice among other prominent issues.—
Janie McCauley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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