compulsion Hear it!

compulsion Definition

com·pul·sion (kəm pul′s̸hən)

noun

  1. a compelling or being compelled; coercion; constraint
  2. that which compels; driving force
  3. Psychol. an irresistible, repeated, irrational impulse to perform some act

Etymology: ME & LL compulsio < L compulsus, pp. of compellere: see compel

compulsion Synonyms

compulsion

n.

  1. Pressure

    constraint, coercion, duress; see pressure 2, restraint 2.

  2. Driving force

    drive, necessity, need; see requirement 2.

  3. An obsession

    irresistible impulse, urge, fixation, preoccupation; see addiction, obsession.

compulsion Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • resist: The quite high ' can't choose ' response may be a consequence of many respondents resisting the compulsion implied by the question.
  • oppose: I am conscious that we who oppose compulsion have a difficult job to do.
  • feel: I feel no compulsion to try to refute my own findings.
  • extend: There is a strong risk however that extending compulsion to the community setting will have the opposite effect.
  • introduce: Many would hesitate to introduce compulsion of this kind.
  • remove: The A-Day pension rules from April this year removed the compulsion to buy an annuity at 75.

Preposition: on

employer: Compulsion ' The TUC has been at the forefront of those arguing for compulsion on employers.

Adjective modifier

  • obsessive: Crisps and beer, with an obsessive compulsion to climb hard every day.
  • inner: I don't know, other than to say an inner compulsion of some sort.
  • strange: It's a strange compulsion our nature gives to us.
  • increased: We believe that if increased compulsion is necessary, the fairest way to achieve it would be through the state pension system.
  • legal: There would be no element of legal compulsion, merely a strong moral case to improve the lot of others.
  • external: We would be as gods, existing with no imperatives, no external compulsions, and no priorities.

Modifies a noun

order: Section 172: Tribunal's order varying compulsion order 320.

Noun used with modifier

  • helmet: Most cycling campaign groups are also against helmet compulsion.
  • pension: This group has a brief to design a practical model of pension compulsion for the UK rather than discuss its merits.
  • employer: Finally, we would caution against wholesale employer compulsion given the potential negative impact that this may have on SMEs.

Preposition: in

religion: The Qur'an declares: There is no compulsion in religion.

Preposition: for

employer: And coupled with auto-enrolment, is the question of compulsion for employers in contributing to their employees ' pension funds.

Preposition: by

stealth: The possibility of compulsion by stealth, which we shall discuss shortly, through the designated documents remains.