coercion
noun
co·er·cion
kō-ˈər-zhən 
-shən
: the act, process, or power of coercing
They used coercion to obtain the confession.
Examples of coercion in a Sentence
a promise obtained by coercion is never binding
Recent Examples on the Web
The call came as Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and has threatened to use economic coercion to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, a position that has infuriated Canadians.
—
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
Moscow stepped up its economic coercion, political meddling, and military aggression to stymie its neighbors’ progress toward democracy and European integration.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Myrie, a lawyer, said that Trump’s threats of withholding federal funds as punishment for the city bucking certain directives amounts to coercion under the 10th Amendment, which emphasizes that the federal government has only the powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Trump has unnerved Greenland's leaders by offering to purchase it from Denmark − without ruling out military action or economic coercion.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
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.
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
Moscow stepped up its economic coercion, political meddling, and military aggression to stymie its neighbors’ progress toward democracy and European integration.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Myrie, a lawyer, said that Trump’s threats of withholding federal funds as punishment for the city bucking certain directives amounts to coercion under the 10th Amendment, which emphasizes that the federal government has only the powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Trump has unnerved Greenland's leaders by offering to purchase it from Denmark − without ruling out military action or economic coercion.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Cite this Entry
“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coercion. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
coercion
noun
co·er·cion
kō-ˈər-zhən, -shən
: the use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal (as discharge from employment) or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will
also
: the defense that one acted under coercion see also defense, duress compare undue influence
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share