Meaning & use
undue pressure
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountableformal
Force or stress that goes beyond what is reasonable, used to push someone into a decision or to make them perform.
Grammar: Usually follows put or under: put undue pressure on someone.
Patterns
- put undue pressure on someone
- under undue pressure
The coach was criticized for putting undue pressure on the young players.
She signed the contract under undue pressure from her boss.
Parents should avoid placing undue pressure on children about exam results.
Common combinations
- put undue pressure on
- Don't put undue pressure on yourself.
- under undue pressure
- He agreed only under undue pressure.
- avoid undue pressure
- Teachers try to avoid undue pressure at exam time.
- feel undue pressure
- Some athletes feel undue pressure from sponsors.
- claim of undue pressure
- The judge heard a claim of undue pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coercion
- Coercion means forcing someone with threats and is stronger than undue pressure.
- excessive stress
- Excessive stress describes too much strain, but does not imply anyone is pushing.
- duress
- Duress is a legal term for being forced by threats and is more severe.
- influence
- Influence is neutral, while undue pressure sounds unfair.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: undue pressure or due pressure?
undue pressure vs due pressure
Due means expected or owed, so due pressure is not the standard opposite of undue pressure.
Practice
The tenant said she signed the lease only because of ___ from the landlord.
Choose one answer.
Undue pressure means unfair force that influences a decision. The others do not name unfair pushing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “undue pressure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.