koʊˈɝʒən kəmˈpʌl.ʃən kəmˈpʌl.ʃən əbˈsɛʃən using force to cause something to occur though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game they didn't have to use coercion an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid he felt a compulsion to babble on about the accident an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will her compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly