com·pul·sion   (kəm-pŭl'shən)    n.   The act of compelling. The state of being compelled. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect" (Boston Globe). An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect" (Boston Globe). An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin compulsiō, compulsiōn-, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere, to compel; see compel.]

Compulsion

Com*pul"sion\, n. [L. compulsio. See Compel.] 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.

If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion. --Shak.

With what compulsion and laborious flight We sunk thus low. --Milton.

Syn: See Constraint.

compulsion

In psychology, an internal force that leads persons to act against their will. A “compulsive” act cannot be controlled: “Smith was a compulsive gambler.”

compulsion 

Main Entry: com·pul·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : an act of compelling (as by threat or intimidation); specifically : COERCION compulsion —E. A. Farnsworth and W. Federal Reporter Young>
2 : the state of being compelled; specifically : DURESS
NOTE: Compulsion can make a contract voidable or be a ground for damages or restitution. Compulsion may also be a defense to a criminal act.

Main Entry: com·pul·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'p&l-sh&n
Function: noun
: an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act—compare OBSESSION, PHOBIA

compulsion com·pul·sion (kəm-pŭl'shən)
n.
An uncontrollable impulse to perform an act, often repetitively, as an unconscious mechanism to avoid unacceptable ideas and desires which, by themselves, arouse anxiety.