as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
complied with the order only under duress
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Recent Examples of duress
Some of it has to do with the understated grace of Ninomiya’s performance as the Lost Man, whose gentleness of spirit, even under anxiety and duress, rang a distant bell.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
The Hawks lost because of some bad possessions under duress and their inability to prevent Knicks star Jalen Brunson from making winning plays of his own.
—Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Chile in 1983, the finance minister’s refusal to socialize private foreign debt drew a cut-off in vital trade credit — oil tankers en route to Santiago turned around — until, under duress, the government relented.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
West Suburban Medical Center was one of two hospitals acquired by Resilience Healthcare in 2022, along with Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which closed last year amid financial duress.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duress
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
The Hawks lost because of some bad possessions under duress and their inability to prevent Knicks star Jalen Brunson from making winning plays of his own.
—Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In Chile in 1983, the finance minister’s refusal to socialize private foreign debt drew a cut-off in vital trade credit — oil tankers en route to Santiago turned around — until, under duress, the government relented.
—Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
West Suburban Medical Center was one of two hospitals acquired by Resilience Healthcare in 2022, along with Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which closed last year amid financial duress.
—Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for duress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duress
Noun
-
But within Seattle’s defense — a unit built on balance, depth and consistent pressure — his role still mattered.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some airlines and independent lounges sell day passes, but availability is often limited due to capacity constraints.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Law said the bill is lacking an education and outreach provision due largely to budget constraints.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Writing, on the other hand, is my lifeline—a compulsion, a joy, and sometimes agony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Family photo For Strausman, like so many artists of all skill levels, creating became a compulsion of the spirit.—
Steve Hartman,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Historian Marvin Dunn echoed that concern, describing a disconnect among younger Black people who did not live through — and in many cases were never deeply taught about — the violence, intimidation and systemic barriers that shaped earlier generations’ fight for the ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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In places like Canton, federal officials set up registration tables on downtown streets so Black residents could sign up to vote without facing harassment or intimidation from local authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Noun
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In California, the Bane Act allows lawsuits against those who use threats, coercion or intimidation to violate a person’s constitutional rights.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
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This language also obscures the ultimatums presented to Iran under threat of American force, making coercion sound like collaboration.—
Atom Ariola,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Duress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duress. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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