coercive

[ koh-ur-siv ]

adjective

1. serving or tending to coerce.

Other Words From

• co·ercive·ly adverb
• co·ercive·ness noun
• nonco·ercive adjective
• nonco·ercive·ly adverb
• nonco·ercive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of coercive¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; coerce + -ive

Example Sentences

Beyond that, she said she is opposed to coercive approaches to masking.

From Washington Post

The court also rejected the claim that this was human experimentation or coercive.

From Time

These laborers toiled under coercive, low-paying contracts, and discriminatory laws.

From Popular-Science

Such reports do not mask the coercive nature of government programs.

From Washington Post

Vaccination incentives raise ethical issues The EEOC has said incentives can’t be deemed “coercive” but they haven’t actually capped them or stated explicitly what constitutes coercive.

From Digiday

The same goes for forced or coercive sterilization of women with disabilities, which is more common than people realize.

From The Daily Beast

Meaning, one was left to discern, that religion is self-evidently a coercive force for ill.

From The Daily Beast

Earnest questions are raised over the coercive nature of police interrogations.

From The Daily Beast

In some ways it was more coercive than normal political influence.

From The Daily Beast

But these challenges pale in comparison to a coercive and centralized system that is vulnerable to abuse.

From The Daily Beast

But for the most part property, contract and the coercive state were fundamental assumptions with the classicists.

From Project Gutenberg

John Randolph, a sick man at the time, traveled throughout the country denouncing Jackson's coercive attitude.

From Project Gutenberg

The women in this case to have what I call the coercive option; for I would not have it in the man's power to be a dog neither.

From Project Gutenberg

However, he explained more fully the meaning of "coercive and arbitrary" action.

From Project Gutenberg

Had he been less blunt or coercive, had he employed a more honeyed appeal, she would not have felt so moved in his behalf.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bullying
• violent