COMPULSION Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

compulsion

noun

kəm-ˈpəl-shən

Definition of compulsion

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of compulsion In fairness, the compulsion to go full-on Chicken Little is hard to resist. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026 But per the Black List, the story follows an antisocial man suffering from obsessive compulsions who is haunted by the death of his hoarder mother. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026 The comedian has built her career by wringing laughs out of a compulsion to share her own worst thoughts about her body, life, and career through the lens of a glamorous cabaret diva. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 The administration is right that trust matters more than compulsion alone. — Katrine Wallace, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compulsion

Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion

Noun

That ratio is expected to fall to around two by 2050, putting further pressure on growth and public finances, including healthcare systems, according to Moody’s.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of pressure

Noun

Many have been feeling the squeeze as costs for inputs like diesel, fertilizer and seed have soared thanks to refinery constraints and supply disruptions amid the Iran war.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
In California, municipal utilities face constraints in raising rates under Proposition 218, a ballot initiative passed in 1996 that says fees must reflect the costs of providing service.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of constraint

Noun

Nearly a year later, Brazil’s courts convicted Eduardo of coercion and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history.

— Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of coercion

Noun

But there are several other federal and state statutes barring voter intimidation that could apply.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
The framework says support for Israel need not mean endorsing every government decision, and calls on Israel to act against settler intimidation and violence.

— Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidation

Noun

In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
In a statement to Rolling Stone, the singer’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, praised her bravery in fighting the agreement that would have barred her from speaking about her experience and her work with domestic-violence groups.

— Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of violence

Browse Nearby Words

comps

compulsion

compulsions

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of compulsion

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on compulsion

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes