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pulsion

drive, urge, impulse

noun pül-SYOHN Rare

Origin: Latin pulsio (a pushing)

Usage Note

pulsion is used in psychology and psychoanalysis for an instinctual drive or impulse, closely corresponding to Freud's concept of 'Trieb'. It carries a stronger, more primal connotation than envie ('desire'). The plural pulsions often appears in the phrase pulsions de mort ('death drives').

Examples

"Ses pulsions l'ont poussé à agir."

Natural Translation

His drives pushed him to act.

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