coercive
adjective
co·er·cive
kō-ˈər-siv 
: serving or intended to coerce
coercive power
coercive measures
coercively
adverb
coerciveness
noun
Examples of coercive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On March 23, 20 states and the District of Columbia sued the USDA to block the new terms for receiving federal funding, which the states characterized as coercive.
—
Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
But, increasingly, the coercive diplomatic tactics have not worked, and a pressure paradox has emerged.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
The difference between a genuinely pro-family agenda and a coercive one lies in the underlying assumptions and motivations.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Too many students still view coercive tactics as legitimate.
—Jason Jewell, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
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Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
But, increasingly, the coercive diplomatic tactics have not worked, and a pressure paradox has emerged.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
The difference between a genuinely pro-family agenda and a coercive one lies in the underlying assumptions and motivations.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Too many students still view coercive tactics as legitimate.
—Jason Jewell, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Cite this Entry
“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coercive. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
coercive
adjective
co·er·cive
kō-ˈər-siv
1
: serving or intended to coerce
2
: resulting from coercion
to protect women from coercive intimacy—Kimberle Crenshaw
Kimberle CrenshawLove words? Need even more definitions?
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