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 the history of sterilization is also deeply entangled with coercion in the form of racial targeting, invalid consent and state control. —Kimberly Turner, The Conversation, 22 May 2026

The problem for central bankers is that monetary policy, which targets demand, can do little about supply coercion, Harker explained. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 17 May 2026

Jakes confessed to acting as the lookout during the killing, but prosecutors threw out his charges in 2018 after the torture commission found credible evidence of coercion by Boudreau and Detective Michael Kill. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026

China’s foreign policy in Asia combines economic integration with selective coercion, deployed in varying proportions depending on the country and context. —Yu Jie, Time, 13 May 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