Compulsion

/kəmˈpʌl.ʃən/

Synonyms for "compulsion" (210 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (42)

Preposition(1 words)
by force
Verb(1 words)
coerce into agreement
Adjective(2 words)
coercive enforcementcoercive enforcements
Adverb(1 words)
coercively pressure students

Strong matches (63)

Noun(13 words)
drivedurancedutyeating urgeenforcingforce into signingforce relatedforcingforcingsimpulseimpulsesimpulsionirresistible impulse
Verb(1 words)
forcing reading
Adjective(2 words)
habitual pattern of behaviorinstinctive urge

Related words (105)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: coercion, abstraction, abulia, addiction, addictions.
  • Sentence evidence is available for compulsion, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "compulsion".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "compulsion"

Keep "compulsion" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "compulsion" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "compulsion", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "compulsion" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

10 entries
behaviorbehavioral tendencycausationcausingexternal forceinfluenceirrational impulseirrational motivepsychological phenomenonpsychological response

More specific

8 entries
checkingcompulsive actcompulsive behaviorcountinghand washinglegal obligationmoral obligationpeer pressure

Collocations

6 entries
external compulsioninternal compulsionlegal compulsionmoral compulsionstrong compulsionunder compulsion

Inflections

1 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

12 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

In truth, a man who renders everyone their due because he fears the gallows, acts under the sway and compulsion of others, and cannot be called just. But a man who does the same from a knowledge of the true reason for laws and their necessity, acts from a firm purpose and of his own accord, and is therefore properly called just.

Source: tatoeba (410270)

The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.

Source: tatoeba (733843)

He could not control his compulsion to kill.

Source: tatoeba (3886853)

He was not sure he could fight the compulsion to run.

Source: tatoeba (11578246)

Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "compulsion"?

Closest matches include coercion, abstraction, abulia, addiction, addictions.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "compulsion"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "compulsion"