coercion

noun

co·​er·​cion kō-ˈər-zhən 

-shən

: the act, process, or power of coercing

They used coercion to obtain the confession.

Synonyms of coercion

• pressure
• constraint
• compulsion
• intimidation
• violence

Examples of coercion in a Sentence

a promise obtained by coercion is never binding

Recent Examples on the Web

Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

But its owner also used coercion and violence against Native Americans, according to John Fraser, the Capitol District superintendent for California State Parks. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026

Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former congressman who has lived in Texas since early 2025, was sentenced Tuesday by Brazil’s Supreme Court to four years and two months in prison after being convicted of coercion tied to efforts to interfere in legal proceedings against his father. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026

This misconduct violates the prosecutor's ethical obligations to 'seek justice, not merely to convict,' and numerous other rules prohibiting undue influence and official coercion of the grand jury. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cohercion, borrowed from Anglo-French cohercioun, borrowed from Late Latin coerctiōn-, coerctiō, by-form of Latin coercitiōn-, coercitiō, from coerci-, variant stem of coercēre "to coerce" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coercion

• mercian
• tertian
• assertion
• cistercian
• desertion
• exertion
• insertion
• overexertion
• reassertion

Legal Definition

coercion

noun

co·​er·​cion kō-ˈər-zhən, -shən 

: the use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal (as discharge from employment) or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will

also : the defense that one acted under coercion see also defense, duress compare undue influence