as in constraints
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
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Recent Examples of compulsions
Letters admitting compulsions and guilt Judge Lopez must also weigh whether letters Cox wrote to a judge in 1993 and 1995 will be admissible.
—
Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Downgrading to a simpler phone, such as an old-school flip phone, could also help curb social media compulsions.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Within a week, the compulsions disappeared.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
James, not unlike his alcoholic father, is at the mercy of his compulsions.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
These compulsions come from the same place as the impulse to punish Renee Nicole Good for protesting, for not bending to patriarchal authority.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Political compulsions could lead to measures that expand the country's fiscal deficit, further raising borrowing costs.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 28 Feb. 2026
Downgrading to a simpler phone, such as an old-school flip phone, could also help curb social media compulsions.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
Within a week, the compulsions disappeared.
—J. Aaron Sanders, STAT, 4 Feb. 2026
James, not unlike his alcoholic father, is at the mercy of his compulsions.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
These compulsions come from the same place as the impulse to punish Renee Nicole Good for protesting, for not bending to patriarchal authority.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Political compulsions could lead to measures that expand the country's fiscal deficit, further raising borrowing costs.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsions
Noun
-
Kelly, who built her reputation in a system defined by editorial constraints and institutional guardrails, now operates in one where those limits are largely absent.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
While advocates for more constraints on drilling point to the low number of permits the ECMC has denied, Robbins thinks that’s the wrong way to view the situation.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Raj Patel, a research professor at the University of Texas, also warned that fertilizer disruptions linked to the conflict could amplify global food pressures through several channels simultaneously.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
On the flip side, there’s the risk that a production could cast someone who might not be adequately prepared or equipped to handle the pressures of a major onscreen role.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsions. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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