coercion

noun

kō-ˈər-zhən How to pronounce coercion (audio)
Definition of coercionnext
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another a promise obtained by coercion is never binding

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of coercion Nearly a year later, Brazil’s courts convicted Eduardo of coercion and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 Other leaders seem resigned to the fact that this 80-year global experiment in cooperative international relations has ceded the floor once again to the world order of coercion that dictated most of human history. — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 Without fiefdoms structuring the distribution of land, the division of labor, and the provision of military protection, agents of state coercion were needed to ensure that former serfs would serve as wage laborers. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 His experiments describe long narrative interactions in which safety guardrails are reframed through concepts including authority, ideological reinterpretation, validation, coercion and identity. — Carlo Tortora Brayda, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for coercion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercion
  1. pressure
  2. constraint
  3. compulsion
  4. intimidation
  5. violence
Noun
  • In retrospect, many Democrats now think that the candidates in 2020 were too willing to bow to pressure with cameras rolling.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Courtney is in school to become a nurse practitioner, which added even more pressure to a home-and-work-life balance.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • Some packs retain enough energy storage potential to serve stationary applications, where weight and packaging constraints matter less.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • ProteinMPNN selects each amino acid based on a series of constraints.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of constraint
Noun
  • The interior drew its own grim commentary—a few guests expressed feeling a sudden compulsion to jump from the top of the spiral ramp to their death.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Under state law, lack of consent generally must be shown through forcible compulsion or a clear expression of nonconsent.
    — Ilana Turko, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of compulsion
Noun
  • The couple was charged last week with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit child abuse and witness intimidation.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Cases can be delayed with different tactics, including intimidation, corruption and procedural mistakes that can reduce charges or even lead to acquittals, said Carole Grace Mbarga, a Cameroonian rights activist.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of intimidation
Noun
  • Some lawmakers worry broadcasting the execution could inspire more violence.
    — Erin Jones, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Blending psychological drama with raw folk horror steeped in the West Slavic mythology of Kashubia, Òpi explores violence, repression and the horrors inherited from one generation to the next.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of violence

Browse Nearby Words

coercing
coercion
coercions
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Cite this Entry

“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercion. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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