Added 9 October 2026
compulsion
/kəmˈpʌlʃən/ noun
In Latin: coactus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about compulsion at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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An urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid.
he felt a compulsion to babble on about the accident
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An irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will.
her compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly
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Using force to cause something to occur.
though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game
Origin
Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)