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

Of these, 37% engaged in violent scenarios that included physical harm, coercion and non-consensual acts. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 2 Jan. 2026

According to the 2024 Hong Seng Knitting Investigation Report, there was no evidence of systematic coercion of all workers to accept unpaid leave, though the investigator found some indications of possible coercion involving a small number of employees. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 29 Dec. 2025

Elections were still not free and fair, but there were not systematically high rates of violence or coercion. —Yonatan Morse, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

Beijing will continue to use incremental tactics and economic coercion against neighbors to pressure them to decouple or distance themselves from Washington. —Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 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