compulsion
gb/kəmpˈʌlʃən/ us/kəmpˈʌlʃən/
B2
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
Sostantivo
C1
state
1
a strong urge to act
a very strong feeling that you must do something
Schema d'uso:
a compulsion to [do something]
Errore comune:
Don’t confuse compulsion (an urge) with compassion (kindness).
Sinonimi
urge (More general; less extreme than compulsion.)
|
impulse (Often sudden and brief; compulsion can be persistent.)
Contrari
self-control (The ability to resist urges rather than act on them.)
|
choice (A freely made decision rather than an overpowering urge.)
Collocazioni
feel a compulsion
|have a compulsion
|a compulsion to check
|a compulsion to eat
|a compulsion to gamble
|an irresistible compulsion
|an overwhelming compulsion
|a compulsion to repeat
|a compulsion to confess
|a compulsion to clean
Temi
emotions
|psychology
|daily_life
Esempi
- She felt a compulsion to check her phone every few minutes.
- He couldn’t explain the compulsion to keep reorganizing the same drawer.
- The compulsion grew stronger whenever he felt stressed.
Esempi per chi studia
- I have a compulsion to bite my nails.
- She felt a compulsion to look back.
Sostantivo
formal
C1
action
2
force or pressure to act
force or pressure that makes someone do something
Schema d'uso:
do [something] under compulsion
Errore comune:
Compulsion is the pressure/force; the verb is compel (to force).
Sinonimi
coercion (Often emphasizes threats or intimidation.)
|
pressure (Broader; can be social and less direct than compulsion.)
Contrari
volition (Doing something by free choice rather than being forced.)
|
freedom (Lack of external force or constraint.)
Collocazioni
under compulsion
|through compulsion
|legal compulsion
|state compulsion
|external compulsion
|economic compulsion
|compulsion and coercion
|submit to compulsion
|use compulsion
|without compulsion
Temi
law
|society
|conflict
Esempi
- The agreement must be signed without compulsion or threats.
- Any confession obtained by compulsion is not admissible in court.
- They acted under compulsion after receiving repeated threats.
Esempi per chi studia
- He worked under compulsion.
- She signed the paper without compulsion.
Sostantivo
B2
state
3
sense you must do it
a strong feeling of duty or need to do something
Schema d'uso:
feel a compulsion to [do something]
Errore comune:
This sense is about obligation/expectation, not a legal requirement.
Sinonimi
obligation (More clearly about duty; compulsion suggests stronger internal pressure.)
|
necessity (Focuses on practical need rather than psychological pressure.)
Contrari
indifference (Lack of motivation or felt need to act.)
|
reluctance (Unwillingness rather than feeling driven to act.)
Collocazioni
a sense of compulsion
|an inner compulsion
|a moral compulsion
|social compulsion
|feel compulsion
|act from compulsion
|compulsion to explain
|compulsion to apologize
|compulsion to help
|a compulsion to respond
Temi
emotions
|relationships
|work
Esempi
- She felt a compulsion to reply immediately, even late at night.
- He spoke out of a compulsion to set the record straight.
- There was no compulsion to stay, but they didn’t want to leave.
Esempi per chi studia
- I felt a compulsion to help him.
- She stayed out of compulsion.
Sostantivo
technical
C1
action
4
repeated act done to relieve anxiety
in OCD, a repeated action someone feels they must do
Schema d'uso:
a compulsion to [do something]
Errore comune:
In clinical use, a compulsion is usually an action (e.g., checking), not just a desire.
Sinonimi
ritual (Often used for repeated behaviors; less precise clinically without context.)
Contrari
avoidance (Staying away from actions/triggers rather than repeating an action.)
Collocazioni
OCD compulsions
|washing compulsion
|checking compulsion
|counting compulsion
|compulsion and obsession
|resist a compulsion
|perform a compulsion
|reduce compulsions
|manage compulsions
|compulsion rituals
Temi
health
|psychology
Esempi
- One of his compulsions was repeatedly checking that the door was locked.
- Treatment helped her resist the compulsion to wash her hands dozens of times a day.
- The therapist explained how compulsions temporarily reduce anxiety but keep the cycle going.
Esempi per chi studia
- His compulsion was to check the stove many times.
Grammatica
Forma base
compulsion
IPA
GB/kəmpˈʌlʃən/
US/kəmpˈʌlʃən/
Sillabe e accento
com - pul - sion (3 sillabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pul)
Forme flesse
Noun
- Base: compulsion
- Plural: compulsion, compulsions
Famiglia di parole
Forms
compulsions
noun
Core family
Related words
compulsory
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
compulsiveness
noun
compulsorily
adverb
Espressioni
act on a compulsion
1/ˈækt ˈɔn ə kəmpˈʌlʃən/
fixed phrase
do what the urge demands
do the action you feel you must do
Esempi
- He tried not to act on the compulsion to check the stove again.
- Therapy helped her notice the urge without acting on a compulsion.
- If you act on a compulsion, the relief is usually temporary.
feel a compulsion to do something
1/fˈil ə kəmpˈʌlʃən tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
suddenly or strongly feel driven
feel a strong need to do something
Esempi
- She felt a compulsion to explain herself.
- He felt a compulsion to check the news again.
- I felt a compulsion to call her as soon as I heard.
give in to a compulsion
1/ɡˈɪv ˈɪn tə ə kəmpˈʌlʃən/
fixed phrase
stop resisting the urge
stop resisting and do it
Esempi
- She gave in to the compulsion and checked the door one more time.
- He was exhausted from constantly fighting, then giving in to, his compulsions.
- Try to delay before you give in to a compulsion.
have a compulsion to do something
1/hˈæv ə kəmpˈʌlʃən tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be strongly driven to act
feel you must do something
Esempi
- I have a compulsion to tidy my desk before I start work.
- He has a compulsion to reread every message before sending it.
- Some people have a compulsion to keep buying things they don’t need.
under compulsion
1/ˈʌndɚ kəmpˈʌlʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
forced, not by choice
forced to do something
Esempi
- He admitted that he acted under compulsion.
- The contract is invalid if it was signed under compulsion.
- She said she agreed under compulsion, not willingly.