cannot help but
Compelled to do
Cannot help but expresses inability to resist an action or feeling: I cannot help but admire her persistence, He couldn't help but laugh.
The phrase combines two constructions—"cannot help doing" and "cannot but do"—that mean the same thing.
Purists sometimes object to the redundancy, but the merged form is well established in standard English.
- obligedBound to comply
- compelledMade to act
- inevitableCertain to occur
- mandatoryRequired by rule
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
irresistible · drawn · drawn to · required · entranced · captivated · mesmerized · bound · have got to · inescapable · destined · necessity · instinctive · fascinated · obsessed · overwhelmed · enchanted · urged