compulsion

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) An irrational need or irresistible urge to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.
2. (countable, uncountable) The use of authority, influence, or other power to force (compel) a person or persons to act.
3. (countable, uncountable) The lawful use of violence (i.e. by the administration).

Synonyms

coercion

force

constraint

duress

enforcement

use of force

pressure

violence

obligation

obsession

necessity

irresistible impulse

restraint

forcing

compel

stress

insistence

forcible

hold

impel

imperative

importunity

intimidation

necessitation

need

obsessive-compulsive disorder

oppression

predestination

press

pressing

promulgation

regulation

rule

shake up

squeezing

strain

bidding

coene

government

supervision

terror

burden

charge

coerce

command

constrain

correction

cramming

dictation

direction

Translations

Zwang

contrainte

compulsión

coercition

coercizione

compulsão

dwang

coerção

costrizione

zorlama

Nötigung

coação

compulsion

coactum

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel.