What does compulsion mean?
Word: Compulsion
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Compulsion means a strong urge to do something that is hard to resist, or the act of forcing someone to do something.
Synonyms: urge, pressure
Antonyms: choice, freedom
How do you spell compulsion?
Syllables: com - pul - sion
Tricky part: The middle vowel is u, though it is said so lightly that some children write a or o.
Watch out for: compalsion, compulsian, compulshun
Memory tip: Link it to compel: a compulsion compels you. The e of compel turns into a u in compulsion.
Compulsion in a sentence
Example 1: Nobody forced him; he studied without any compulsion.
Example 2: She felt a compulsion to finish the whole jigsaw before dinner.
Example 3: Some children feel a compulsion to tidy their desks before they can start work.
Fun Fact
Compulsion and compel both come from the Latin compellere, which meant to drive together, as a herder drives cattle.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word:
compulsion
a) reward
b) obligation
c) hobby
d) excuse
Show answer
b) obligation. An obligation is something you are bound to do, just as a compulsion pushes you to act.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lupsimocon
a) complusion
b) compulsion
c) convulsion
d) compassion
Show answer
b) compulsion. Complusion has the l and u swapped round, and the other two use letters that are not here.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
compul_i_n
a) t, a
b) s, o
c) c, o
d) t, o
Show answer
b) s, o. Keep the s of compulsory, and the word ends in sion.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) extension
b) admision
c) compulsion
d) expansion
Show answer
b) admision. Admission takes a double s, just like permission; the other three are spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If you do something under compulsion, you do it because ____.
a) you feel pushed into it
b) you enjoy it very much
c) you are paid well for it
d) you planned it for weeks
Show answer
a) you feel pushed into it
2. Which sentence uses compulsion correctly?
a) She compulsioned him to eat his greens.
b) The rules compulsion every pupil to wear a tie.
c) He was very compulsion about cleaning.
d) There is no compulsion to join the club.
Show answer
d) There is no compulsion to join the club.
