com·pul·sion 
/kəmˈpʌlʃən/ noun
plural com·pul·sions /kəmˈpʌlʃən/ noun 1 [count] : a very strong desire to do something
▪ I gave in to one of my compulsions and ordered the chocolate dessert. — often followed by to + verb ▪ He felt a compulsion to say something. 2 [noncount] a : the act of using force or pressure to make someone do something
▪ We should be able to get them to cooperate without using compulsion. ▪ legal compulsion
b : the state of being forced to do something
▪ He was acting under compulsion. [=he was being forced to act] ▪ Their children read only under compulsion. [=only when they are forced] ▪ We are under no compulsion to decide immediately. [=we are not required to decide immediately]
▪ I gave in to one of my compulsions and ordered the chocolate dessert. — often followed by to + verb ▪ He felt a compulsion to say something.
▪ We should be able to get them to cooperate without using compulsion. ▪ legal compulsion
b : the state of being forced to do something
▪ He was acting under compulsion. [=he was being forced to act] ▪ Their children read only under compulsion. [=only when they are forced] ▪ We are under no compulsion to decide immediately. [=we are not required to decide immediately]
