1 compulsion | Definition of compulsion
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

compulsion

noun
com·​pul·​sion | \ kÉ™m-ˈpÉ™l-shÉ™n How to pronounce compulsion (audio) \

Definition of compulsion

1a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about compulsion

Keep scrolling for more

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

 Fiscal prudence Free of election-year compulsions, the budget did not have any major schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi announced in the interim budget in February. — Pramod Mathew, Quartz India, "In a quest to remain fiscally prudent, India’s budget stuck to the minimum," 6 July 2019 The Welsh have a word for this sort of compulsion to look back: hiraeth (pronounced ‘here-eye-th’). — Longreads, "Manic Street Preachers’ Album The Holy Bible," 25 June 2019 Just last month the 39-year-old dropped legislation aimed at curbing Americans’ compulsion to keep checking our screens for likes and retweets. — Matt Laslo, WIRED, "Josh Hawley Says Tech Enables 'Some of the Worst of America'," 16 Aug. 2019 This process of working—which seems as much a compulsion as a method—was key to Simenon’s enormous productivity. — Vince Passaro, Harper's magazine, "Maigret All Day," 22 July 2019 The compulsion to make a photograph isn’t as simple as pressing a button. — National Geographic, "Your best photos of the week, June 7, 2019," 7 June 2019 Viola’s an easy sell—a badass, successful lesbian who projects confidence, but is also dealing (or not dealing) with her own destructive compulsions. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "'The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls' Is a Stunning Debut From Anissa Gray," 1 Apr. 2019 Eighty minutes had not absolved me of my compulsion to check in—with my inbox, my text messages, Instagram DMs, Twitter notifications, and more. — Carrie Battan, Harper's BAZAAR, "Escaping the Seduction of Your Smartphone," 26 July 2018 There’s the economy of attention that draws users of games like Candy Crush and apps like Facebook into the compulsion loop of repetitive use. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, "Why Is There a ‘Gaming Disorder’ But No ‘Smartphone Disorder?’," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compulsion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of compulsion

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for compulsion

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compulsion-, compulsio, from Latin compellere to compel

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for compulsion

compulsion

noun
How to pronounce compulsion (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of compulsion

: a very strong desire to do something
: the act of using force or pressure to make someone do something
: the state of being forced to do something

See the full definition for compulsion in the English Language Learners Dictionary

compulsion

noun
com·​pul·​sion | \ kÉ™m-ˈpÉ™l-shÉ™n How to pronounce compulsion (audio) \

Kids Definition of compulsion

1 : a very strong urge to do something He felt a compulsion to say something.
2 : a force that makes someone do something She was acting under compulsion.
3 : an act or the state of forcing an action They got what they wanted through compulsion.

compulsion

noun
com·​pul·​sion | \ kÉ™m-ˈpÉ™l-shÉ™n How to pronounce compulsion (audio) \

Medical Definition of compulsion

: an irresistible persistent impulse to perform an act (as excessive hand washing) also : the act itself — compare obsession, phobia

Keep scrolling for more

compulsion

noun
com·​pul·​sion | \ kÉ™m-ˈpÉ™l-shÉ™n How to pronounce compulsion (audio) \

Legal Definition of compulsion

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.

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!