coerced

American  

[koh-ursd] / koʊˈɜrsd /

adjective

1. forced or compelled through intimidation or authority, especially without regard for individual volition.

   A judge decided that key evidence, obtained from a coerced 14-year-old boy, was unreliable.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of coerce.

Other Word Forms

• uncoerced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of coerced

coerce ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, China is known to have “conducted coerced repatriations of economic fugitives from the U.K. and kidnapping of dual nationals overseas.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The judges found Tarrant's guilty pleas were voluntary and "he was not coerced or pressured in any way to plead guilty".

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

It said that he was waiving his right to an attorney, and that he hadn’t been coerced.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

If they want to continue, the person would make a second declaration, with doctors required to speak with the patient in private to ensure they are not being pressured or coerced.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

He said that he had told lots of people—from the D.A. on down—that he had been coerced to testify falsely against Walter.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• compelled
• contrived
• enforced
• involuntary
• mandatory
• unwilling