Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
 
Help
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

compulsion

 - 5 dictionary results

com⋅pul⋅sion

  [kuhm-puhl-shuhn]
Use compulsion in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of compelling; constraint; coercion.
2. the state or condition of being compelled.
3. Psychology. a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, esp. one that is irrational or contrary to one's will.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME (< AF) < LL compulsiōn- (s. of compulsiō), equiv. to L compuls(us), ptp. of compellere to compel (com- com- + pul- var. s. + -sus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To compulsion
com·pul·sion   (kəm-pŭl'shən)   
n.  

    1. The act of compelling.

    2. The state of being compelled.

    3. 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).

    4. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.

    1. 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).

    2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

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.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see compulsion on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way