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Definitions

compulsion

[kuhm-puhl-shuhn] / kəmˈpʌl ʃən /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“He never stops painting,” McKellen says, clearly understanding the compulsion to keep creating.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Nevertheless, our compulsion to glean some broader significance from Carol’s story cannot help but wander into that territory.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 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

They are interesting, but not as fascinating as the central mystery, which is that we do it at all, and that we do it under such compulsion.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas




Vocabulary lists containing compulsion