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compulsion - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'compulsion' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Compulsion [ n.]
- The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force.

Meaning of 'compulsion' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . compulsion [ n]
Meaning (1):
- an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid
Example in sentence:
  • he felt a compulsion to babble on about the accident
Meaning (2):
- an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will
Example in sentence:
  • her compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly
Meaning (3):
- using force to cause something to occur
Example in sentence:
  • they didn't have to use coercion;
  • though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game

Nearby Words:

com- coma comanches comart comate comatose comatous comatula comatulid comb

See 'compulsion' also in:

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Related Definitions

  • Repetition compulsion
    Repetition compulsion is the compulsion to repeat the same behaviour over and over again, the classic example being Lady Macbeth's hand washing.
  • Compulsions
    As part of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, people may also experience compulsions, irresistible urges to repeatedly carry out

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