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
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
A confession was coerced from the suspect by police. was coerced into signing the document
Recent Examples on the Web The implication was clear: Yes, the United States has been trying to punish and coerce Russia with hundreds of sanctions for years now. Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2022 Cheryl Bush, an attorney representing VNA, said individually interviewing jurors could coerce them into delivering a verdict that did not necessarily reflect their true opinions after weeks of deliberating. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2022 Across a vast array of circumstances, a State will be able to impose its moral choice on a woman and coerce her to give birth to a child. Sofia Lotto Persio, Quartz, 24 June 2022 Since 2019, security researchers have warned of the possibility of Russia using control over the Libyan migration route to terrorize and coerce the EU. Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 The intention of these programs was not to assimilate us into our new (and intimidating) surroundings, but rather to coerce students into accepting and affirming a resident orthodoxy. Abigail Anthony, National Review, 15 July 2022 In the case of the economist, the report said, Chinese officials in 2019 detained and tried to coerce him to share data and information on U.S. government policies, including on tariffs while the U.S. and China were in the midst of a trade war. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 July 2022 Predators who find accounts belonging to minors can coerce those minors into sharing photos and videos of themselves and then groom them to start taking and sharing more proactive content over time — often by posing as other minors. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 26 July 2022 Prosecutors said Inciardi and Kosinski tried to coerce Henley to buy back the manuscripts while simultaneously trying to sell them through Christie's and Sotheby's auction houses. Sonia Moghe, CNN, 12 July 2022 See More
Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2022 Cheryl Bush, an attorney representing VNA, said individually interviewing jurors could coerce them into delivering a verdict that did not necessarily reflect their true opinions after weeks of deliberating. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2022 Across a vast array of circumstances, a State will be able to impose its moral choice on a woman and coerce her to give birth to a child. Sofia Lotto Persio, Quartz, 24 June 2022 Since 2019, security researchers have warned of the possibility of Russia using control over the Libyan migration route to terrorize and coerce the EU. Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 The intention of these programs was not to assimilate us into our new (and intimidating) surroundings, but rather to coerce students into accepting and affirming a resident orthodoxy. Abigail Anthony, National Review, 15 July 2022 In the case of the economist, the report said, Chinese officials in 2019 detained and tried to coerce him to share data and information on U.S. government policies, including on tariffs while the U.S. and China were in the midst of a trade war. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 July 2022 Predators who find accounts belonging to minors can coerce those minors into sharing photos and videos of themselves and then groom them to start taking and sharing more proactive content over time — often by posing as other minors. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 26 July 2022 Prosecutors said Inciardi and Kosinski tried to coerce Henley to buy back the manuscripts while simultaneously trying to sell them through Christie's and Sotheby's auction houses. Sonia Moghe, CNN, 12 July 2022 See More 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
: force entry 2 sense 1, compel
He was coerced into giving up his lunch money.
Legal Definition
coerce
transitive verb
co·erce kō-ˈərs
coerced; coercing
: to subject (a person) to coercion compare importune, solicit
coerces
verb
as in compels
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure was coerced into signing the document Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- compels
- forces
- obliges
- obligates
- blackmails
- drives
- constrains
- intimidates
- pressures
- impels
- impresses
- presses
- makes
- muscles
- browbeats
- bullies
- dragoons
- threatens
- blackjacks
- sandbags
- terrorizes
- shames
- bulldozes
- drags
- harasses
- hectors
- twists one's arm
- cows
- menaces
- badgers
- hounds
- high-pressures
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- allows
- permits
- lets
- induces
- argues
- moves
- satisfies
- convinces
- persuades
- wins (over)
- talks (into)
- prevails (on or upon)