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View synonyms for duress

duress

[ doo-res, dyoo-, door-is, dyoor- ]

noun

  1. compulsion by threat or force; coercion; constraint.

    Synonyms: intimidation, pressure

  2. Law. such constraint or coercion as will render void a contract or other legal act entered or performed under its influence.
  3. forcible restraint, especially imprisonment.


duress

/ djʊə-; djʊˈrɛs /

noun

  1. compulsion by use of force or threat; constraint; coercion (often in the phrase under duress )
  2. law the illegal exercise of coercion
  3. confinement; imprisonment
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of duress1

1275–1325; Middle English duresse < Middle French duresse, -esce, -ece < Latin dūritia hardness, harshness, oppression, equivalent to dūr ( us ) hard + -itia -ice
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Word History and Origins

Origin of duress1

C14: from Old French duresse, from Latin dūritia hardness, from dūrus hard
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Example Sentences

Yet opponents argue it would increase unemployment because higher wages would force small businesses, already under economic duress because of the pandemic, to lay off employees.

They subsisted on ammonia instead of water and could employ limited telepathic abilities under duress.

If you quit under duress, that’s one thing, but it sounds like you worked together and you repeatedly said no.

From Ozy

With the health-care system under increasing duress and deaths surging, some say it was too little too late.

From Fortune

While the courts admit wills made under certain kinds of duress, they also recognize more whimsical estate planning if the wording is unambiguous.

From Ozy

There were reports that she wanted to leave the show, and was acting under duress.

In moments of duress, a different self manifests with acts of destruction: unleashed id in Freudian, or Incredible Hulk, terms.

“Yes, he appears calm and collected but he is clearly stressed and doing this under duress,” the source says.

Under “fear, threats, and duress,” Egan says he signed the form, “a false declaration denying any childhood sexual abuse” by Doe.

“I wrote it under duress and hated the ending,” he said last week.

Charles the Ninth and Catharine had consented to publish a declaration denying Cond's allegation that they were held in duress.

She was brought to me, and put in duress under charge of the division surgeon until her companion could be secured.

Often they treated agreements entered into with the Order as contracts signed under duress.

So Sir Percival performed that adventure of setting free the duress of the castle of Beaurepaire.

No one who has any regard for freedom of elections can look upon these governments, forced upon them in duress, with any favor.

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Dürer, Albrechtduressor