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

In blockade and quarantine contingencies, lawfare and economic coercion might matter as much as air-naval power. —Eyck Freymann, Time, 4 Nov. 2025

Since the movie's release in September, the relationship between the two has soured and in the weeks leading up to the bond hearing the filmmaker in court filings accused Goudreau of deceit, financial coercion and threatening conduct. —Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2025

Ventura maintained in her testimony that at times she was made to attend these events via coercion and blackmail, claims Combs has denied and was not found guilty of during his trial. —Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 31 Oct. 2025

Takaichi, a longtime China hawk, has criticized Beijing’s military expansion and economic coercion for years. —Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 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