Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

coerce

American  
[koh-urs] / koʊˈɜrs /

verb (used with object)

coerced, coercing
  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 British  
/ 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

Other Word Forms

  • coercer noun
  • coercible adjective
  • noncoercible adjective

Etymology

Origin of coerce

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is manufactured scarcity designed to coerce consumers into a single brokerage’s ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the option, one of several the White House has been debating to coerce Tehran to reach a deal restricting its nuclear program, faces many obstacles, some of the officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Johnson added that he needed further clarity about safeguards to ensure medics were satisfied that patients understood the decision they were making, and were not being coerced by anyone else.

From BBC

But not since 1903, the year Theodore Roosevelt coerced Colombia to relinquish what became the Panama Canal, has a U.S. president forced a foreign government to give Washington significant land.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sure enough, the Taliban launched Chinese-made rockets at the base after dark, planted there, we were told, by farmers who had been either bribed or coerced into doing so.

From BBC