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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The Fed's most potent weapon against inflation is to ratchet up or maintain higher interest rates, because an increase in borrowing costs slows economic demand, which eases inflationary pressures.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
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After wriggling away from pressure, Watkins’ strike deflected off Schar and past Nick Pope in goal.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Lynch’s installment, Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood, is executive produced by Angela Bassett and Academy Award winner Halle Berry, and highlights Black women who have led films while navigating a different set of expectations, constraints, and pressures.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
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For conservatives who genuinely care about limiting executive power and enforcing constitutional constraints, these tariffs present a moment of truth.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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What went cruelly overlooked was the larger effect of such coercion: lasting trauma for Schneider, whose outspokenness over the years about her experience typically went unnoticed.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
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The latest findings add to a growing list of evidence of deeply rooted, widespread malpractice and coercion in what the commission called a mass exportation of children to meet foreign demand.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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