compulsion
n. C / Un. a very strong feeling that you have to do something, even if you know it might be a bad idea. It can also mean the act of forcing someone to do something against their will.
n. an irresistible psychological urge to act in a certain way, often contrary to one's conscious wishes. In a broader sense, it refers to the act of forcing someone to do something or the state of being forced.
He felt a sudden compulsion to check the locks again.
She struggled with a compulsion to wash her hands repeatedly, a habit that began to interfere with her daily life.
The legal framework distinguishes between actions taken voluntarily and those performed under compulsion, recognising that true consent cannot exist when a party is actively coerced.
Borrowed from Middle French compulsion, from Late Latin compulsiō, from Latin compellere (“to compel, coerce”); see compel.
Often followed by an infinitive verb when referring to an urge, or paired with the preposition 'under' when referring to coercion.