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compulsion

[kuhm-puhl-shuhn] / kəmˈpʌl ʃən /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Great powers can compel, but compulsion comes with costs, both reputational and financial," the former central banker added.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

"She must have had some compulsion," one wrote.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

Nevertheless, our compulsion to glean some broader significance from Carol’s story cannot help but wander into that territory.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025

Each act of outrage delivers short-term relief that reinforces the cycle, maintaining the compulsion rather than resolving it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

She closed the book and pulled out another, and another, motivated by a rising compulsion she did not understand.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo




Vocabulary lists containing compulsion