Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for compulsion.
Definitions

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.

“He never stops painting,” McKellen says, clearly understanding the compulsion to keep creating.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

“It’s a compulsion for me—I have to write music,” he told Rolling Stone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

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

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025

The island had come under repeated assault, prompting a resurfacing of Olmsted’s old anger about the compulsion of clients to tinker with his landscapes.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson




Vocabulary lists containing compulsion