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

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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 The tricky double lane change is a serious test of the electric SUV’s handling and stability under duress. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2026 Whether to add a new instrument to the arsenal is a decision the country can make deliberately today, or under duress later. — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 Even the most meticulous training cannot quite capture the duress of the finals. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 14 June 2026 In the beginning, there was bread The book’s centerpiece chapters on starters, mains and sweets are bookended on one side by a treatise on how to make and store breadcrumbs of various sizes, with an under-duress sub-section about how to buy breadcrumbs. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for duress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for duress
  1. pressure
  2. constraint
  3. compulsion
  4. intimidation
  5. coercion
Noun
  • Aquarius has played host to researchers observing the marine life around them, studying the effects of long term pressure on the human body, learning best practices for remote robotic surgery and even growing food and fungi underwater.
    — Alex Harris July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Lamine Yamal gets last laugh Spain winger Lamine Yamal put pressure on his teammates with some of his prematch trash talk.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • The pair had been in talks with traditional studios about a few of their ideas, but timeline constraints and the potential loss of creative control steered them away.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Bieber’s inclusion in the FIFA Halftime Show – the first in the World Cup tournament’s nearly 100-year history – adds to an overwhelmingly starry lineup given the time constraints.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of constraint
Noun
  • Generalized anxiety may manifest itself in depression, compulsion or restlessness.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • These obsessions lead you to do repetitive behaviors, also called compulsions.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of compulsion
Noun
  • The most detailed allegations came from a woman named Lyndsey Fifield, who reported controlling behaviors, frequent displays of rage, threats of violence and self-harm, emotional intimidation and physical abuse.
    — Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026
  • In recent months, police have banned public meetings, arrested and detained some critics of the reforms, while others have alleged harassment and intimidation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of intimidation
Noun
  • Thus, Oreshnik functions more as an instrument of strategic coercion, creating uncertainty in Western capitals, rather than achieving decisive battlefield gains.
    — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The key risk lies not in policy convergence but in setting precedents that blur the boundaries between law enforcement, coercion and commerce.
    — John Calabrese, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of coercion

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Cite this Entry

“Duress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duress. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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