compulsion

American  

[kuhm-puhl-shuhn] / kəmˈpʌl ʃən /

noun

1. the act of compelling; compel; 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

• noncompulsion noun
• precompulsion noun

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

Example Sentences

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

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

"She must have had some compulsion," one wrote.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Each act of outrage delivers short-term relief that reinforces the cycle, maintaining the compulsion rather than resolving it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

After finally getting help, he freed himself of “the compulsion to destroy myself. But I still had the demons, the anger, the feeling on edge and never feeling secure.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 3, 2025

My compulsion to be always on the move began to fade.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Related Words

• coercion
• obsession
• preoccupation
• urgency