coercive

adjective

co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv How to pronounce coercive (audio)
Synonyms of coercivenext
: serving or intended to coerce
coercive power
coercive measures
coercively adverb
coerciveness noun

Examples of coercive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During a forum on the Venezuelan transition held in Caracas on January 29, Alarcón described the current situation as an unprecedented, coercive and uncertain process. Cnn 9 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026 Universities and law firms should refuse coercive deals that trade independence for short-term safety. Philippe Bolopion, Time, 1 Feb. 2026 With Greenland, coercive threats aimed at an ally only strained NATO without producing compliance. Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026 DeSantis has said policies that reject unvaccinated children are wrong and coercive, and Ladapo last year pushed for a bill that sought to offer more protection for unvaccinated patients. Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coercive

Word History

Etymology

coerce + -ive

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coercive was circa 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coercive. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Legal Definition

coercive

adjective
co·​er·​cive kō-ˈər-siv How to pronounce coercive (audio)
1
: serving or intended to coerce
2
: resulting from coercion
to protect women from coercive intimacyKimberle Crenshaw

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