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

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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

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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

Even if you don’t, you might, as this hodgepodge of anecdotes, trivia and theories is less about stamps in particular and more about the compulsion to collect in all its facets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

None of these people is real, but the irritations they represent – NIMBYism, narcissism and the compulsion to destroy others to build ourselves up – are quite familiar.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

But now, he is trying a 12-session course of private therapy to try to curb this compulsion, which he believes is driven by loneliness.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

Randy Newman even wrote a song about his compulsion, “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

For that reason she felt no compulsion to verify herself—be consistent with herself.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Like Maddie, she can easily cloak compulsions under the blanket of modern body positivity.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

"Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, feelings and sensations while compulsions are repeated, ritualised acts that are done to neutralise or alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions," Nina tells the BBC's Complex podcast.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026

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

As the title suggests, the series challenges viewers to see how we grapple with our demons and our worst compulsions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 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

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Related Words

• coercion
• obsession
• preoccupation
• urgency

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