as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
in that class I read books under compulsion that I ordinarily wouldn't have considered
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Recent Examples of compulsion
But at what cost? The compulsion to be right often blinds us to alternative perspectives, limits our creative problem-solving, and stifles growth.
—
Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Gondry expands his eclectic filmography with this rejuvenating fantasia, revealing another facet of his creativity (and confessing a certain compulsion; when Maya declines to provide a title for a next short, his reaction is priceless).
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
Overcoming the compulsions, the siren’s call, the lowest-common-denominator, tabloid, casino effect of everything in a very competitive attention environment where we’re driven toward the lowest common denominator.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 1 Feb. 2025
The compulsion for constant doing defends you from feeling unpleasant emotions and gives you safety and security even if the task itself is satisfying.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Gondry expands his eclectic filmography with this rejuvenating fantasia, revealing another facet of his creativity (and confessing a certain compulsion; when Maya declines to provide a title for a next short, his reaction is priceless).
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
Overcoming the compulsions, the siren’s call, the lowest-common-denominator, tabloid, casino effect of everything in a very competitive attention environment where we’re driven toward the lowest common denominator.
—Sean Illing, Vox, 1 Feb. 2025
The compulsion for constant doing defends you from feeling unpleasant emotions and gives you safety and security even if the task itself is satisfying.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
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Under public pressure, the Norwegian parliament reacted remarkably fast, closing major areas to all fishing after just nine months of deliberation.—
Christian Elliott,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the 1920s, New Bedford’s textile industry collapsed under the pressure of newer, even lower wage competitors in the American South.—
Made by History,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That pivot involved epistemic uncertainty—consumer behavior, bandwidth constraints, and content rights.—
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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The constraints and challenges that stand in the way of developing these capabilities are real.—
ANDREW S. LIM,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Mixing pop and politics Soft power refers to a country’s ability to influence others, not through coercion but through attraction – by shaping preferences through culture, values and public diplomacy.—
Shaoyu Yuan,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2025
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The two scholars maintain there is no evidence of coercion here.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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More than 1,700 people have been killed this year— 1,086 in February and March, according to the U.N. — in violence fueled by criminal groups trying to expand their territorial control and overthrow the government.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
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Abby’s friends are nervous, even disgusted at this point, horrified at her capacity for violence.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
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