coercion

noun

kō-ˈər-zhən How to pronounce coercion (audio)
Definition of coercionnext
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another a promise obtained by coercion is never binding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 coercion House Bill 582, known as the Survivor Justice Act, allows courts to consider reduced sentences for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking who committed crimes under coercion. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 29 June 2026 The Buildings Department plans to bolster the good will Pilku’s counting on with a suite of regulatory changes that are working their way through the system, some of them in the form of incentive rather than coercion. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026 Tariffs are being imposed, there are strong impediments to any movement of labor, and economic coercion is being used practically everywhere. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for coercion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercion
  1. pressure
  2. constraint
  3. compulsion
  4. intimidation
  5. violence
Noun
  • Another shoe will drop for SpaceX this week when close to a billion shares held by insiders can be sold for the first time on Thursday, which traditionally puts downward pressure on newly IPOed company stock prices.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • His government has rarely been seen to yield to public pressure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • Device fragmentation, network variability, OS-level constraints, battery states and memory limits are not edge cases.
    — Jim Douglas, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Over the weekend of July 18 to July 19, OpenAI employees began to see signs in their systems that the agent had escaped from the testing constraints.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of constraint
Noun
  • The compulsion to seek out fun in summer heat is driven by a mix of biological boosts, social conditioning, and psychological relief from winter confinement.
    — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The real question is whether Pennsylvania and cities like Pittsburgh want skill games and other gambling opportunities to be widespread and unavoidable for people who struggle with compulsions to gamble.
    — Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of compulsion
Noun
  • But fears of future intimidation do not excuse preemptive capitulation.
    — Ivan Oransky, STAT, 31 July 2026
  • Majorities of Americans are worried about election officials being coerced, lax ballot security, and voter intimidation leading up to the 2026 midterm elections, according to new polling from Gallup.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of intimidation
Noun
  • Fred Mosqueda, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, traces his people's homeland long before Colorado became a territory — and to the violence that followed westward expansion as the country developed.
    — Anna Alejo, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • In the following years, TPS was extended as widespread political and gang violence endangered those still living in Haiti.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of violence

Browse Nearby Words

coercing
coercion
coercions
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Cite this Entry

“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercion. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on coercion

Nglish: Translation of coercion for Spanish Speakers

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