as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
a promise obtained by coercion is never binding
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coercion
More concerning, Russian nuclear saber rattling has reanimated concerns in Europe and elsewhere that revisionist powers might use nuclear coercion to pursue wars of aggression.
—
Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Martin’s limited series — which begs for a second season — highlights why coercion and control are typically ineffective remedies for adolescent rebellion.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Through cancel culture, the capture of schools and universities, corporate coercion, and media dominance, dissenting voices have been silenced.
—Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Negative freedom means freedom from coercion—no one telling you what to do.
—Henrietta Moore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Martin’s limited series — which begs for a second season — highlights why coercion and control are typically ineffective remedies for adolescent rebellion.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
Through cancel culture, the capture of schools and universities, corporate coercion, and media dominance, dissenting voices have been silenced.
—Carolyn McKinney, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Negative freedom means freedom from coercion—no one telling you what to do.
—Henrietta Moore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercion
Noun
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In the Pacific, a trough of low pressure a few hundred miles off the coast of southwestern Mexico has a high chance of forming in the next 48 hours.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The budget pressures departments to have state employees return to their offices instead of working at home as many have done since the 2020 pandemic.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Shaw said better compensation could help reduce turnover further, but districts may struggle to offer raises due to budget constraints.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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The struggle of artistic pursuit against personal and political constraints is a subtext embedded throughout An Unfinished Film.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Unlike others of his ilk, Dexter has honed his compulsion and focuses only on bad people in Miami who slip through the hands of justice.—
Barry Garron,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
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Castro’s talent lies in meticulously creating a realistic—and entertaining—portrait of one man’s compulsions, bringing individual texture to a curious social phenomenon.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As a makeup technique, contouring was met with intimidation, and the Kardashian’s kit aimed to simplify things.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Size also helps boost the intimidation factor.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Monster has debuted into this very fraught political moment where, despite no evidence showing a link between violence and transness, right-wingers have gone to great pains to paint almost every mass shooter who makes front page news as trans in hopes of stripping trans people of their rights.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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Companies can now detect many types of incidents involving violence in a few seconds, although some complex situations, such as self-harm and suicide, remain difficult to address through automation.—
John Wihbey,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercion. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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