compulsion

[ kuhm-puhl-shuhn ]

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.

compulsion

/ 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

compulsion

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.”

Other Word Forms

• noncom·pulsion noun
• precom·pulsion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsion¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsion¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin compellere to compel

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

My thrifting compulsion became a “finding vintage designer online for cheap” compulsion, a skill that felt natural and exciting.

From Los Angeles Times

Decoding mysteries is his driving compulsion, and if decoding the enigma of human interaction is part of that – something solo living never requires him to practice – so be it.

From Salon

His resilience and compulsion to power and his mastery of being “Donald Trump,” the character.

From Salon

Judge Lady Ross told Parker that he was acquitted of the charges and imposed a interim compulsion order on him for treatment at the state hospital.

From BBC

Related Words

• coercion
• obsession
• preoccupation
• urgency