coercion

noun

co·​er·​cion kō-ˈər-zhən 

-shən

: the act, process, or power of coercing

They used coercion to obtain the confession.

Synonyms

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

Examples of coercion in a Sentence

a promise obtained by coercion is never binding

Recent Examples on the Web

Even Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, is calling out the coercion. —Megan Thiele Strong, New York Daily News, 7 July 2024

The man accused of leading the chant turned himself in to NYPD on June 26, and was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on a charge of misdemeanor attempted coercion on Monday, court records show. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024

Taiwan wants the United States to step up its efforts to counter Chinese aggression and coercion, including Beijing’s attempts to normalize large-scale and intrusive military and coast guard activities against it. —Bonnie S. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 2 July 2024

Theocratic coercion undermines the genuine practice of faith. —Washington Post, 27 June 2024

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

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