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View synonyms for

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

/ əˈʌʃə /

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.”
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Other Word Forms

  • ԴDzcdz·ܱsDz noun
  • cdz·ܱsDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsion1

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin dzܱō- (stem of dzܱō ), equivalent to Latin compuls ( us ), past participle of compellere to compel ( com- com- + pul- variant stem + -sus past participle suffix) + -ō- -ion
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Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsion1

C15: from Old French, from Latin compellere to compel
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He indulges in his compulsions to escape from his own discomfort, and consistently blames his actions on his current love interest.

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Of all the characters, she offers the best understanding of the compulsion ballerinas have to keep dancing.

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

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

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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.

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Comptroller of the Currencycompulsive