Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for coerce

coerce

[ koh-urs ]

verb (used with object)

, co·erced, co·erc·ing.
  1. to compel by force, intimidation, or authority, especially without regard for individual desire or volition:

    They coerced him into signing the document.

  2. to bring about through the use of force or other forms of compulsion; exact:

    to coerce obedience.

  3. to dominate or control, especially by exploiting fear, anxiety, etc.:

    The state is based on successfully coercing the individual.



coerce

/ kəʊˈɜːs /

verb

  1. tr to compel or restrain by force or authority without regard to individual wishes or desires
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • coˈercer, noun
  • coˈercible, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • co·erc·er noun
  • co·er·ci·ble adjective
  • non·co·er·ci·ble adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of coerce1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin coercēre “to hold in, restrain,” equivalent to co- co- + -ercēre, combining form of arcēre “to keep in, keep away,” akin to arca ark
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of coerce1

C17: from Latin coercēre to confine, restrain, from co- together + arcēre to enclose
Discover More

Example Sentences

Two have been charged with counts listed as federal crimes of terrorism, relating to destruction of government property to intimidate or coerce the government.

Pregnant people have historically been considered a “vulnerable” population—a designation also applied to groups, such as children and the incarcerated, who may be coerced into participating in research.

From Time

Once you find the ghost’s favorite room, you may need to coerce them to come out since some are camera shy.

Any organization that feels coerced into paying a ransom should, at a minimum, analyze the potential risks of sanctions, especially if Bitcoin payments eventually find their way to a terrorist organization.

From Fortune

She moved with her three kids to a new state and connected with a nonprofit that supports survivors of coerced debt and domestic violence.

A fellow justice also accused McCaffery of attempting to coerce him into opposing Castille.

Once again Russia brandishes the threat of a gas cutoff to squeeze Kiev and coerce Europe.

Alito opened the door by questioning the “anomalous” Abood precedent, which lets states coerce union members into paying dues.

In other instances, CIA recruiters used thinly veiled threats to coerce their cooperation.

Religious liberty, Jefferson argued, denies the majority any right to coerce a dissenting minority, even one hostile to religion.

This Constitution does not attempt to coerce sovereign bodies, States, in their political capacity.

It guides, it need not coerce or necessitate, though it may.

To coerce them into a reluctant self-denial could be no possible object to him either of wish or hope.

Hopeless to search further among empty swamps and forests, to grope at large in this hushed wilderness, to coerce a jungle.

Hume, though we have found him censuring the conduct of Franklin, was opposed to any attempt to coerce America.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


coequalcoerced