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

Signed on December 5, 1994, the memorandum committed Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders, refrain from using force, and avoid economic coercion. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

In the ruling, the judge noted that Knight’s claims of coercion lacked any basis. —Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025

The Ministry of State Security hoped to stage a public show trial, but as soon as the physical coercion stopped, the defendants began to retract their confessions and write letters of protest. —Wendy Z. Goldman, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025

The Constitution guarantees every defendant the right to a fair trial by an impartial jury – not one driven by coercion or groupthink. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025

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