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

But during arguments in the fall, Chiles' lawyer, James Campbell, told the justices that the way his client wishes to practice conversion therapy involves no physical restraints or coercion of any kind. —Nina Totenberg, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026

In the wake of the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s, Congress responded by creating the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an emergency stockpile designed to protect the nation from foreign coercion and sudden supply shocks. —John Adams, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

When the law that governs CARE Court was being written, many advocacy groups insisted that coercion is ineffective and that modern mental health care favors treating people in the least restrictive settings possible. —Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

Every culture initiative, every engagement survey, every pizza party lands on top of that coercion architecture and changes nothing. —Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Mar. 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

• assertion
• cistercian
• desertion
• exertion
• insertion
• mercian
• 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