duress

noun

du̇-ˈres How to pronounce duress (audio)
Definition of duressnext
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another complied with the order only under duress

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 duress Jensen said some residents have begun exploring their legal options, citing both the emotional duress of hearing constant screams and also a fear of potentially lower property values. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Willis was under duress from the Raiders’ pass rush for most of the day, getting sacked five times while tossing one interception. — Sam Warren, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for duress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duress
  1. pressure
  2. constraint
  3. compulsion
  4. intimidation
  5. coercion
Noun
  • That ratio is expected to fall to around two by 2050, putting further pressure on growth and public finances, including healthcare systems, according to Moody’s.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.
    — Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • Stratolaunch said the additional capacity will help reduce scheduling constraints and support a higher flight cadence.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Mamdani and Chow swapped notes on dealing with the constraints placed on them by their state and provincial governors, and on their respective battles over renters’ rights and the high costs of living in their cities.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of constraint
Noun
  • Under state law, lack of consent generally must be shown through forcible compulsion or a clear expression of nonconsent.
    — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The real question is whether Pennsylvania and cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia want skill games and other gambling opportunities to be widespread and unavoidable for people who struggle with compulsions to gamble.
    — Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of compulsion
Noun
  • But there are several other federal and state statutes barring voter intimidation that could apply.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The framework says support for Israel need not mean endorsing every government decision, and calls on Israel to act against settler intimidation and violence.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimidation
Noun
  • Nearly a year later, Brazil’s courts convicted Eduardo of coercion and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of coercion

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durations
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Cite this Entry

“Duress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duress. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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