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

That's not freedom, that's coercion. —Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

This means coercion of local stations and national networks would violate the law. —ArsTechnica, 11 June 2026

Torres Rivera says Cuba is not a threat and that any effort to change Cuba's government by force or coercion will be met with fierce resistance. —Anna McAllister, CBS News, 10 June 2026

Kono’s statement acknowledging military coercion of women into front-line brothels paved the way for broader wartime remorse in 1995 and reshaped Japan’s relations with Asian neighbors. —Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 10 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