compulsion

American  

[kuhm-puhl-shuhn] / kəmˈpʌl ʃən /

noun

compulsions plural

1. the act of compelling; constraint; coercion.

2. the state or condition of being compelled.

3. Psychology. a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.

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compulsion British  

/ kəmˈpʌlʃən /

noun

1. the act of compelling or the state of being compelled

2. something that compels

3. psychiatry an inner drive that causes a person to perform actions, often of a trivial and repetitive nature, against his or her will See also obsession

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compulsion Cultural  

1. In psychology, an internal force that leads persons to act against their will. A “compulsive” act cannot be controlled: “Smith was a compulsive gambler.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncompulsion
  noun
• precompulsion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compulsions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of compulsion

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin compulsiōn- (stem of compulsiō ), equivalent to Latin compuls ( us ), past participle of compellere to compel ( com- com- + pul- variant stem + -sus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Let's say you have a secret. You've promised not to tell, but there's something forcing you to call a friend and spill the beans. This force is compulsion, that urge to do something even though you know you shouldn't. If you go back to the Latin, you find compulsus, the past participle of the verb compellere, "to compel." You can see the connection with our word compulsion, which means "something compelling." The word gained a more psychological meaning in 1909 in a translation of Freud’s studies, suggesting a type of neurosis that impels a person to do things in an obsessive manner.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compulsion compulsions

For that reason, Iran’s officers may feel no compulsion to kowtow to Beijing.

From Slate ● May 7, 2026

“Islands within islands, within islands, within islands,” Ella says about the men’s instinct for loneliness, their compulsion to isolate themselves ever further.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

“He never stops painting,” McKellen says, clearly understanding the compulsion to keep creating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

"Great powers can compel, but compulsion comes with costs, both reputational and financial," the former central banker added.

From Barron's ● Mar. 5, 2026

I lean over, take the bag, and pick out a couple of pieces, hanging off the bed, a strange compulsion forcing me to stare at the screen.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

That homework was part of a deeper process of breaking down the compulsions and frustrations that all artists share.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026

"It involved really distressing intrusive thoughts, repetitive thinking, and punishing compulsions - just to relieve the anxiety."

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025

The 43-year-old said she experiences overwhelming compulsions to eat, which can lead her to consume up to 5,000 calories in less than 30 minutes.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025

A few more seconds of silence followed before I could no longer resist my pick-me compulsions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2025

Eventually, though, I realized these inclinations, these compulsions, were as much a part of the body as its eye color or its voice.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Related Words

• coercion
• obsession
• preoccupation
• urgency