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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Recent Examples of coercion
De Cossío argued that dialogue is a better alternative for the US than coercion.
—
Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Media pressure now takes the form of economic coercion rather than censorship.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Even without any coercion, people often choose to follow skilled or respected individuals because good leadership makes life easier for everyone.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
Now a committee is reviewing whether or not coercion played a role in her death.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Media pressure now takes the form of economic coercion rather than censorship.
—Alejandro Reyes, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Even without any coercion, people often choose to follow skilled or respected individuals because good leadership makes life easier for everyone.
—Thomas Morgan, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026
Now a committee is reviewing whether or not coercion played a role in her death.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercion
Noun
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The employee, a mother of two teen girls, warned about the filters and said the pressure on teen girls is intense.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Coach Rick Hirtensteiner said Young dealt with the pressure by just trying to have fun, and Sheffer, playing with his younger brother, Ryan, a starting shortstop, appeared to do just that Wednesday.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The reality today is human plus machine, operating under budget constraints in flawed institutions, fed by imperfect data.—
Eric Sullivan,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
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At the time, Chapter 11 documents filed on behalf of McGrath stated that despite the strength of the brand, Pat McGrath Labs faced growing financial headwinds in early 2025 including liquidity constraints.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the ethical questions that the case had raised—about the meaning of family and the commodification of children, the tension between reproductive autonomy and contractual compulsion—were left painfully unresolved.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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Within a week, the compulsions disappeared.—
J. Aaron Sanders,
STAT,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Fears of intimidation and impersonation Álvarez said the concerns stem from individuals allegedly posing as immigration agents in Dallas neighborhoods.—
Steve Pickett,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
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These measures are vital to maintain public trust, prevent voter intimidation, and ensure that our elections can be administered securely, fairly, and transparently.—
State Rep. Matt Blumenthal,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But some experts on gun violence are still wary of endorsing the program.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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The film delves into young sisters’ lives shaped by ancestral violence and the lasting impact of abuse.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercion. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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