Meaning & use
a compulsion
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Meanings
nouncountable
a strong feeling that you must do something, even when you do not want to
Grammar: Countable here: one urge is "a compulsion," and several are "compulsions." It is often followed by "to + verb."
Patterns
- a compulsion to do something
- have a compulsion to do something
- feel a compulsion to do something
- give in to a compulsion
She felt a compulsion to check the door again before leaving the house.
He has a compulsion to count the steps whenever he climbs a staircase.
For years he struggled with a compulsion to wash his hands many times a day.
nouncountableformal
a strong force that makes people do something or makes something happen
Grammar: Used in more formal writing about causes and forces; often followed by "to do something."
Patterns
- a compulsion to do something
- under a compulsion to do something
The new rules created a compulsion to report every small change.
Under a compulsion to finish the report, she worked through the weekend.
nouncountablelegalformal
a legal or official order that forces someone to do something
Grammar: A specialist legal use; it often appears in the phrase "under compulsion" meaning because someone is forced.
Patterns
- under compulsion
- a compulsion to pay
The witness spoke under compulsion from the court.
They acted under compulsion, not by choice.
Word forms
| plural | compulsions |
|---|
Common combinations
- a compulsion to do something
- He has a compulsion to arrange objects in perfect lines.
- feel a compulsion
- I felt a compulsion to tell her the truth.
- give in to a compulsion
- She tried not to give in to the compulsion to buy more shoes.
- under compulsion
- He signed the agreement under compulsion.
- a strong compulsion
- There was a strong compulsion to leave the meeting early.
- an inner compulsion
- An inner compulsion drove him to keep practicing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- urge
- "Urge" is the everyday word for a strong wish to do something; "compulsion" is stronger and suggests you cannot easily resist it.
- impulse
- An "impulse" is a sudden wish that often passes quickly; a "compulsion" is more lasting and harder to control.
- obsession
- An "obsession" is a thought or interest that fills your mind; a "compulsion" is the pressure to act on it.
Opposites
Word family
- compel verb
- to force someone to do something
- compelling adjective
- so strong or interesting that you must pay attention
- compulsory adjective
- required by a rule or law
- compulsive adjective
- done repeatedly and difficult to stop
Commonly confused: a compulsion or compunction? a compulsion or compulsion vs. compulsory?
a compulsion vs compunction
"Compunction" means a feeling of guilt or regret, not a strong urge to act. "He felt no compunction about leaving early" is about guilt, while "a compulsion to leave early" is about an urge.
a compulsion vs compulsion vs. compulsory
"Compulsion" is a noun (a strong urge or force); "compulsory" is an adjective meaning required by a rule.
Practice
Which sentence uses "a compulsion" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"A compulsion" is usually followed by "to + verb," so "a compulsion to check" is correct. The other options use the wrong preposition or verb form after the noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a compulsion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.