English noun: compulsion | |||
1. | compulsion (motive) an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid | ||
Samples | He felt a compulsion to babble on about the accident. | ||
Synonyms | irresistible impulse | ||
Broader (hypernym) | irrational impulse | ||
2. | compulsion (motive) an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will | ||
Samples | Her compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly. | ||
Synonyms | obsession | ||
Broader (hypernym) | irrational motive | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | onomatomania | ||
3. | compulsion (act) using force to cause something to occur | ||
Samples | Though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game. They didn't have to use coercion. | ||
Synonyms | coercion | ||
Broader (hypernym) | causation, causing | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | constructive eviction, eviction | ||