duress

noun

du·​ress du̇-ˈres 

also dyu̇-

1

law : forcible restraint or restriction

… while the German army was still held in duress by the Versailles treaty.

—S. L. A. Marshall

2

law : compulsion (see compulsion sense 1a) by threat

gave the statement under duress

specifically : unlawful constraint

held under duress

Did you know?

Duress: Its Origin and Relations

Duress is most often paired with the word under to refer to force or threats meant to make someone do something. For example, someone forced to sign a document signs it “under duress,” and a person held “under duress” is not free to leave but is being constrained, usually unlawfully. (Do not confuse being “under duress” with being “under stress,” which is a much more common occurrence.) Duress comes ultimately from the Latin adjective durus, meaning “hard,” source too of durable and endure.

Synonyms of duress

• pressure
• constraint
• compulsion
• intimidation
• coercion

Examples of duress in a Sentence

He gave the information under duress.

complied with the order only under duress

Recent Examples on the Web

The vagueness might be deliberate—an attempt to present the story as a parable about morality under duress. —Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025

The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop. —Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025

Wentz, who was under duress for large segments of Thursday’s bout, showed a lot more bad than good during his month under center. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025

Caring for young children under extreme duress (global pandemic). —Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English duresse, from Anglo-French duresce hardness, severity, from Latin duritia, from durus — see during

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

duress

noun

du·​ress d(y)u̇-ˈres 

: the use of force or threats

Legal Definition

duress

noun

du·​ress du̇-ˈres, dyu̇- 

: wrongful and usually unlawful compulsion (as threats of physical violence) that induces a person to act against his or her will : coercion

also : the affirmative defense of having acted under duress see also economic duress compare necessity, undue influence

Note: A person may be able to avoid the consequences of his or her acts under the law if they were performed while under duress. For example, a contract made under duress is voidable by the coerced party. Similarly, a will signed under duress is invalid. Duress may also be used to justify a criminal act.

Etymology

Anglo-French duresce, literally, hardness, harshness, from Old French, from Latin duritia, from durus hard