compulsion

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A strong, often irresistible urge to do something.

   He felt a sudden compulsion to check that the door was locked.

2. 2
   noun

   The use of force or pressure to make someone do something.

   She signed the contract under compulsion, not by choice.

Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel.

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