under compulsion
Against one's will
Under compulsion describes doing something because you are forced to, not because you choose to.
The compulsion may be external, such as a legal requirement or threat, or internal, such as an overwhelming psychological urge.
She testified under compulsion after receiving a subpoena.
The phrase often appears in legal contexts where someone acts not of their own free will but because circumstances or authorities leave no alternative.
- dutyRequired moral task
- duressCoercion through threats
- pressureForce upon contact
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- guiltMoral self-reproach
coercion · intimidation · forced hand · against one's will · no choice · conscience · moral duty · conformity · law · overpowering · violence · enforcement · involuntary · tradition · contract · threat · fear · restraint
under compulsionvoluntarily
Without external compulsion
of one's own free will · freely · by choice · willingly · of one's own accord
under compulsionuncoerced
Done without compulsion
unpressured · unconstrained · unforced · at liberty · at will
under compulsioneagerly
With keen enthusiasm
enthusiastically · gladly · happily · wholeheartedly · with pleasure
under, compulsion, compel, compels, compelled, compelling, compulsive, compulsively, compulsory