HOBSON'S CHOICE Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

Hobson's choice

noun

Definition of Hobson's choice

as in coercion

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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.

Recent Examples of Hobson's choice Read my lips, in a veritable Hobson's choice between person or thing, AI is a thing, for now. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 June 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for Hobson's choice

Noun

Opponents have branded the bill unsafe and unworkable, citing concerns around potential coercion of vulnerable people and a lack of safeguards for those with disabilities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
Lawmakers, medical colleges and religious leaders raised concerns over coercion, disability rights and uncertain prognoses, while supporters warned the defeat leaves dying patients traveling abroad for assistance under the current law.

— Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of coercion

Noun

Yemeni government forces have launched airstrikes targeting Houthi reinforcements west of Taiz, several residents of Mokha said, and the Yemeni government military has urged civilians to avoid roads between Taiz and Mokha.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
In the quantum world, the falling path from the atom’s point of view experiences no gravity or any other force, and its wave should not pick up any extra phase.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of force

Noun

Even once the hospital began to review the spike in infant mortality and connections to Letby’s work shifts — and even after the nurse had been placed on administrative duties in July 2016 — police weren’t called until May 2017.

— Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Ultimately, what convinced many of her colleagues was the reassurance that citizens would not have decisional power; the parliament had a duty to consider their recommendations but could decide not to adopt them.

— Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of duty

Noun

That calculation can reveal a sizable amount of informal self-insurance that never received the same planning, funding or governance as other financial obligations.

— Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Bankruptcy could also put the district’s collective bargaining agreements at risk and potentially interfere with pension obligations.

— Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of obligation

Noun

Records show it was sold without any apparent signs of duress by dealer Raphaël Gérard to the Abels gallery, which had been active in France during the war, and then it was acquired by an individual in Germany.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
In the clip below, Steinberg gives a sense of the psychological duress of his ocean journey.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of duress

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“Hobson's choice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Hobson%27s%20choice. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of Hobson's choice

noun

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