duress
Americannoun
-
compulsion by threat or force; coercion; constraint.
- Synonyms:
- pressure, intimidation
-
Law. such constraint or coercion as will render void a contract or other legal act entered or performed under its influence.
-
forcible restraint, especially imprisonment.
noun
-
compulsion by use of force or threat; constraint; coercion (often in the phrase under duress )
-
law the illegal exercise of coercion
-
confinement; imprisonment
Etymology
Origin of duress
1275–1325; Middle English duresse < Middle French duresse, -esce, -ece < Latin dūritia hardness, harshness, oppression, equivalent to dūr ( us ) hard + -itia -ice
Explanation
Let’s hope you’re never denied food and sleep and forced to sign a confession, but if you are, that's called being under duress. Threats and harsh treatment meant to make you do something you don’t want to do is duress. The word duress came into English through French, with origins in the Latin word duritia, which means “hardness.” First used to describe harsh or cruel treatment, duress soon took on the additional meaning of forcing someone to do something, usually through threats. Duress is typically used with the word under, as in a suspect who only signs a confession because he is under duress.
Vocabulary lists containing duress
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rights groups have criticised the judicial process, calling it rushed and saying that confessions were extracted under duress.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
For half a century, when America’s largest corporations faced financial duress, their first call often went to one firm: Weil Gotshal & Manges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
And when people return to their home countries -- whether voluntarily or under duress -- help is also drying up, said UNHCR.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
Al-Marimi has denied making the bomb that brought down the jumbo jet and claims the confession is false and was made under duress.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
My biology textbook said that dogs can smell fear because of a chemical secreted by human glands in a state of duress, the same chemical a dog’s prey secretes.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
