coercion

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableformal

   The act of making someone do something by using threats, pressure or force instead of free choice.

   Grammar: No plural: confessions obtained by coercion.

   Patterns

   • by coercion
   • under coercion
   • coercion of someone

   The witness said she signed the statement only under coercion.

   Government by coercion rarely lasts long.

   There was no coercion involved; all the volunteers chose to take part.

2. 2noununcountablelegal

   In law, the use of force or threat to make someone commit a crime or agree to a contract.

   Grammar: A legal term that can serve as a defense: acting under coercion.

   Patterns

   • act under coercion

   The court accepted that the defendant had acted under coercion.

   A contract made through coercion can be declared invalid.

   Evidence gained by coercion is often not allowed at trial.

Common combinations

by coercion

The group kept its members by coercion, not by loyalty.

under coercion

He claimed he had signed under coercion.

economic coercion

Larger countries are sometimes accused of economic coercion against smaller ones.

physical coercion

The law forbids any form of physical coercion.

free from coercion

Voters must be free from coercion at the polls.

Synonyms and how they differ

compulsion

Compulsion can be an inner urge as well as outside force, whereas coercion always involves another person's pressure.

duress

Duress is the legal word for threats that force someone to act, and it focuses on the victim's situation.

intimidation

Intimidation stresses frightening someone, while coercion is about making them do something particular.

arm-twisting

Arm-twisting is an informal expression for forceful persuasion, and it is milder than coercion.

Opposites

Word family

coerce verb

to force someone to do something by threats or pressure

coercive adjective

using force or threats to get a result

coercively adverb

in a way that uses force or pressure

coerced adjective

forced to act against your will

Commonly confused: coercion or persuasion?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “coercion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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