coerce

verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

transitive verb

1

: to compel to an act or choice

was coerced into agreeing

abusers who coerce their victims into silence

2

: to achieve by force or threat

coerce compliance

coerce obedience

3

: to restrain or dominate by force

… religion has in the past tried to coerce the irreligious …

—William Ralph Inge

coercible

kō-ˈər-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of coerce

• compel
• force
• obligate
• oblige

Choose the Right Synonym for coerce

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield.

force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Examples of coerce in a Sentence

A confession was coerced from the suspect by police.

was coerced into signing the document

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike an appeal, the post-conviction process allows a petitioner to introduce new information, such as new allegations or evidence that their attorney coerced or threatened them. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Defense attorneys maintained that Tyler Williams was coerced by his older brother, who was believed to be the driving force behind the attacks. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

The changes come after the school hired outside counsel to investigate its handling of Jane Doe’s allegations that she was coerced into drugs and alcohol at Chi Phi in October 2024 then raped by several members throughout the night. — Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026

On July 23, 1973, tragedy rippled through the Mexican American community when 12-year-old Santos Rodriguez was shot and killed by a Dallas police officer who tried to coerce him into confessing to a burglary by playing Russian roulette. — Alexis Guerrero, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coarcen, coercen, borrowed from Anglo-French *cohercer, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Latin coercēre "to confine, shut up, restrict, restrain," from co- co- + arcēre "to hold in, prevent from approaching, keep away" — more at ark

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for coerce

• curse
• hearse
• purse
• terse
• vers
• verse
• worse
• adverse
• averse
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse

Kids Definition

coerce

verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

: to cause someone to do something by force or threat

coercion

-ˈər-zhən, 

-shən

noun

coercive

-ˈər-siv

adjective

Legal Definition

coerce

transitive verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

: to subject (a person) to coercion compare importune, solicit