as in persistent
formal
using force or threats to make someone do something; using coercion
coercive measures
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Recent Examples of coercive
On March 23, 20 states and the District of Columbia sued the USDA to block the new terms for receiving federal funding, which the states characterized as coercive.
—
Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
But, increasingly, the coercive diplomatic tactics have not worked, and a pressure paradox has emerged.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
The difference between a genuinely pro-family agenda and a coercive one lies in the underlying assumptions and motivations.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Too many students still view coercive tactics as legitimate.
—Jason Jewell, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Chiara Eisner, NPR, 17 May 2026
But, increasingly, the coercive diplomatic tactics have not worked, and a pressure paradox has emerged.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
The difference between a genuinely pro-family agenda and a coercive one lies in the underlying assumptions and motivations.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Too many students still view coercive tactics as legitimate.
—Jason Jewell, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercive
Adjective
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In the years since the band came together to challenge country radio’s persistent gender imbalance, there has been some significant headway.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
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Since the initiative began, more than 200,000 children have moved out of poverty, but food insecurity remains a persistent challenge.—
Sky Beard,
Sun Sentinel,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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While the summit covers a broad spectrum of energy infrastructure needs, one of the most pressing topics on the table is the rapid expansion of data centers across the state, something that has sparked significant concern among many local residents regarding energy and water consumption.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
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But there’s a question that’s far more pressing than all the what-ifs.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercive. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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