duress

noun

du·​ress du̇-ˈres 

 also  dyu̇-

1

law : forcible restraint or restriction

while the German army was still held in duress by the Versailles treaty

—S. L. A. Marshall

2

law : compulsion (see compulsion sense 1a) by threat

gave the statement under duress

specifically : unlawful constraint

held under duress

Did you know?

Duress: Its Origin and Relations

Duress is most often paired with the word under to refer to force or threats meant to make someone do something. For example, someone forced to sign a document signs it “under duress,” and a person held “under duress” is not free to leave but is being constrained, usually unlawfully. (Do not confuse being “under duress” with being “under stress,” which is a much more common occurrence.) Duress is ultimately from Latin durus, meaning "hard," source too of durable and endure.

Synonyms

• arm-twisting
• coercion
• compulsion
• constraint
• force
• pressure

Examples of duress in a Sentence

He gave the information under duress.

complied with the order only under duress

Recent Examples on the Web

The show heightens the idea that this story is being told under duress, as a confession tortured out of The Captain, who is under interrogation in a communist reeducation camp back in Vietnam. —Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Chicago, Houston, New York and Los Angeles rank highest for citizens in financial duress New York and Los Angeles ranked third and fourth on the financial distress list. —USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024

As many speculated, Kate Middleton reportedly recorded her March 22 video revealing her shocking cancer diagnosis, under duress. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024

Some tribal members believe the Yakama signed a treaty under duress. —ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2024

The principles also encourage countries to identify and research cultural property that may have changed hands during World War II and to return work that was looted, confiscated or sold under duress. —Carlie Porterfield, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024

Skills can be used at any time while blocking, helping players fight back while under duress. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024

But place him under duress and his performance will begin to fade. —Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024

The dream of homeownership, etched deep into the American ethos, is under duress. —Michael Lucarelli, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English duresse, from Anglo-French duresce hardness, severity, from Latin duritia, from durus — see during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

duress

noun

du·​ress d(y)u̇-ˈres 

: the use of force or threats

Legal Definition

duress

noun

du·​ress du̇-ˈres, dyu̇- 

: wrongful and usually unlawful compulsion (as threats of physical violence) that induces a person to act against his or her will : coercion

also : the affirmative defense of having acted under duress see also economic duress compare necessity, undue influence

Note: A person may be able to avoid the consequences of his or her acts under the law if they were performed while under duress. For example, a contract made under duress is voidable by the coerced party. Similarly, a will signed under duress is invalid. Duress may also be used to justify a criminal act.

Etymology

Anglo-French duresce, literally, hardness, harshness, from Old French, from Latin duritia, from durus hard