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

They must be understood within a system of coercion designed to separate children from their families, communities and Ukrainian identity.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Autonomy, in this light, is not simply the absence of coercion.

— Sai Rajagopal, STAT, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of coercion

Noun

Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
In December 2024, the Pentagon estimated that China’s rocket force had boosted its missile supply by 50% in the preceding four years.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of force

Noun

Howard brought claims for breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud and fraudulent misrepresentation against CAA.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
Citizen, off-duty trooper credited with saving lives Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers cold case investigations, the death penalty and breaking news for USA TODAY.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of duty

Noun

According to a stadium lease between the city and the Public Building Authority signed in 2009, the city had authorized issuing $12 million in short-term financing obligations to build Dickey-Stephens Park, which opened in 2007.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 6 Aug. 2026
One thing seems certain — any Chinese citizen with this type of account needs to be paying attention to their obligations, and the sooner the better, to avoid falling afoul of the new mandate.

— Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of obligation

Noun

In my experience, companies that decline to run it voluntarily tend to end up running it under duress, with fewer options and less generosity available to their people.

— Andrew Sorohan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
The duress password is a feature of GrapheneOS, a security-first version of Android.

— Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 31 July 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 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of Hobson's choice

noun

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