coerce

[ koh-urs ]

/ koʊˈɜrs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR coerce ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), co·erced, co·erc·ing.

to compel by force, intimidation, or authority, especially without regard for individual desire or volition: They coerced him into signing the document.

to bring about through the use of force or other forms of compulsion; exact: to coerce obedience.

to dominate or control, especially by exploiting fear, anxiety, etc.: The state is based on successfully coercing the individual.

Words nearby coerce

coenzyme, coenzyme a, coenzyme q, coenzyme q 10, coequal, coerce, coercimeter, coercion, coercive, coercive force, coercivity

Origin of coerce

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin coercēre to hold in, restrain, equivalent to co- co- + -ercēre, combining form of arcēre to keep in, keep away, akin to arca ark

OTHER WORDS FROM coerce

co·erc·er, nounco·er·ci·ble, adjectivenon·co·er·ci·ble, adjectiveun·co·erced, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH coerce

coerce compel constrain force oblige

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for coerced

No doubt, there are wrongful convictions that result from misidentification and coerced confessions.
How I Stopped My Rapist|Natasha Alexenko|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The police eventually obtained two written confessions that the brothers would describe as coerced.
How the North Carolina GOP Made a Wrongfully Convicted Man a Death Row Scapegoat|Michael Daly|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her mother, from the United States, had been coerced by friends into organizing the operation.
Egypt: Stop Mutilating Little Girls!|Bel Trew|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While still living with Marion, Flemmi coerced Debbie Hussey at the age of 18 into a sexual relationship (he was 42).
The Hidden Horror of Whitey Bulger’s Trial|T.J. English|July 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Rather, he says, it was his unscrupulous criminal defense lawyer, the late Richard G. Sherman, who coerced him to run.
Max Factor Heir Andrew Luster: My Lawyer Made Me Do It|Diane Dimond|February 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I trust I was not invited here either to be insulted or coerced.
Roughing It|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Will the gentleman contend that juries are to be coerced to find verdicts at the point of the bayonet?
Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2)|Thomas Hart Benton
Coerced by criticism, between 1719 and 1737 the Company made some explorations, but little was accomplished.
The Colonization of North America|Herbert Eugene Bolton
Don't ye believe thim lads with lumber ya-ards on their necks an' bar'ls on their feet was coerced.
Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War|Finley Peter Dunne
Second, the ancient Assyria was a peaceful province not coerced by a standing Persian force or garrisons of any strength.
The Ancient East|D. G. Hogarh

British Dictionary definitions for coerced

coerce

/ (kəʊˈɜːs) /

verb

(tr) to compel or restrain by force or authority without regard to individual wishes or desires

Derived forms of coerce

coercer, nouncoercible, adjective

Word Origin for coerce

C17: from Latin coercēre to confine, restrain, from co- together + arcēre to enclose

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

coerce

verb (used with object), co·erced, co·erc·ing.

Content related to coerce

Words related to coerce

Words nearby coerce

Origin of coerce

OTHER WORDS FROM coerce

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH coerce

Examples from the Web for coerced

British Dictionary definitions for coerced

verb

Derived forms of coerce

Word Origin for coerce