coercive

adjective

co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv 

: serving or intended to coerce

coercive power

coercive measures

coercively adverb

coerciveness noun

Examples of coercive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those brands have also faced allegations of aggressive or coercive sales practices in social media complaints and, in some cases, court proceedings. — Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Their agenda was backward-looking, morally coercive, and steeped in righteous absolutism. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026

Authorities have already been using coercive tactics to find fresh troops. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

Rights groups say the number of Americans unjustly detained in the country ranges from a dozen to hundreds, including coercive exit bans. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

coerce + -ive

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coercive

• coercive force

Rhymes for coercive

• cursive
• aversive
• discursive
• dispersive
• immersive
• recursive
• subversive

Legal Definition

coercive

adjective

co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv 

1

: serving or intended to coerce

2

: resulting from coercion

to protect women from coercive intimacy

—Kimberle Crenshaw