coercion

[ koh-ur-shuh n ]

/ koʊˈɜr ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR coercion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of coercing; use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance.

force or the power to use force in gaining compliance, as by a government or police force.

Nearby words

Origin of coercion

1515–25; < Medieval Latin coerciōn- (stem of coerciō), Latin coerctiōn-, syncopated variant of coercitiōn-, equivalent to coercit(us) (past participle of coercēre to coerce) + -iōn- -ion; replacing late Middle English cohercion < Middle French < Latin as above

Related formsco·er·cion·ar·y, adjectiveco·er·cion·ist, nounnon·co·er·cion, nounpro·co·er·cion, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for coercion

Many out athletes found their voices silenced by coercion contracts many of their home countries gave them.
‘To Russia With Love’: Can Johnny Weir Save Russia’s Gays?|Kevin Fallon|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We are watching an invasion using subversion, coercion, and somewhat limited military action.
Is the U.S. Enabling Putin's Invasion?|Christopher Dickey|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Where popular fervor ends, force begins and President Maduro has relied consistently on coercion.
Venezuela’s Agony: Weak President, Strong Generals, Riots and Cocaine|Marcel Ventura|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These sexual relationships are consensual—and rarely deemed “rape”—but the large age differential is a type of coercion.
Can Boys Be ‘Coerced’ Into Sex?|Lizzie Crocker|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

There is no coercion or identification of the town, city, or state with a particular god, or indeed with any god.
Supreme Court Prayer Decision in Greece v. Galloway Should Be Easy|Eric Segall|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One of the objects of this rigid duresse, was the coercion of the garrison.
The Lily and the Totem|William Gilmore Simms
They were under the coercion of public opinion, but were dragged instead of driven by it.
Brave Men and Women|O.E. Fuller
Thenceforth that measure could be carried through the Irish Parliament only by coercion or bribery.
William Pitt and the Great War|John Holland Rose
Agitation produced coercion, and coercion produced fresh agitation.
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 4 (of 4)|Thomas Babington Macaulay
Our princes were about to have at their command means of coercion such as no Plantagenet or Tudor had ever possessed.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for coercion

coercion

/ (kəʊˈɜːʃən) /

noun

the act or power of coercing

government by force

Derived Formscoercionist, nouncoercive (kəʊˈɜːsɪv), adjectivecoercively, adverbcoerciveness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for coercion

coercion

early 15c., from Old French cohercion (Modern French coercion), from Medieval Latin coercionem, from Latin coerctionem, earlier coercitionem, noun of action from past participle stem of coercere (see coerce).

coercion

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of coercion

Examples from the Web for coercion

British Dictionary definitions for coercion

coercion

noun

Word Origin and History for coercion

coercion