compulsion
[ kuh m-puhl-shuh n ]
/ kəmˈpʌl ʃən /
noun
the act of compelling; constraint; coercion.
the state or condition of being compelled.
Psychology.
a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.
Origin of compulsion
OTHER WORDS FROM compulsion
non·com·pul·sion, noun pre·com·pul·sion, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compulsion
compulsion compunctionWords nearby compulsion
Example sentences from the Web for compulsion
British Dictionary definitions for compulsion
compulsion
/ (kəmˈpʌlʃən) /
noun
the act of compelling or the state of being compelled
something that compels
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
Word Origin for compulsion
C15: from Old French, from Latin
compellere to
compel
Medical definitions for compulsion
compulsion
[ kəm-pŭl′shən ]
n.
An uncontrollable impulse to perform an act, often repetitively, as an unconscious mechanism to avoid unacceptable ideas and desires which, by themselves, arouse anxiety.
Cultural definitions for compulsion
compulsion
In psychology, an internal force that leads persons to act against their will. A “compulsive” act cannot be controlled: “Smith was a compulsive gambler.”