coerce

verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

transitive verb

1

: to compel to an act or choice

was coerced into agreeing

abusers who coerce their victims into silence

2

: to achieve by force or threat

coerce compliance

coerce obedience

3

: to restrain or dominate by force

religion in the past has tried to coerce the irreligious

—W. R. Inge

coercible

kō-ˈər-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• blackjack
• compel
• constrain
• dragoon
• drive
• force
• impel
• impress
• make
• muscle
• obligate
• oblige
• press
• pressure
• sandbag

Choose the Right Synonym for coerce

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige mean to make someone or something yield.

force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Examples of coerce in a Sentence

A confession was coerced from the suspect by police.

was coerced into signing the document

Recent Examples on the Web

Chief Critic Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel criticized the Teamsters in a statement shared with Forbes, and accused the group of threatening, intimidating, and attempting to coerce Amazon employees to join them. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

And that, according to the district attorney, is an attempt to coerce or influence the public or its citizenry or an industry towards change, which is included in the terrorism charge. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

An entire generation for ten years were being sent down [writer’s note: Chinese youths were coerced to leave their hometowns to work in rural areas for labor]. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024

That same sentence will remain for anyone found guilty of tricking, pressuring or coercing someone into making the choice if the bill is ultimately passed. —David Hodari, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coarcen, coercen, borrowed from Anglo-French *cohercer, borrowed (with conjugation change) from Latin coercēre "to confine, shut up, restrict, restrain," from co- co- + arcēre "to hold in, prevent from approaching, keep away" — more at ark

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

coerce

verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

: to cause someone to do something by force or threat

coercion

-ˈər-zhən

-shən

noun

coercive

-ˈər-siv

adjective

Legal Definition

coerce

transitive verb

co·​erce kō-ˈərs 

coerced; coercing

: to subject (a person) to coercion compare importune, solicit