duress

American  

[doo-res, dyoo-, door-is, dyoor-] / dʊˈrɛs, dyʊ-, ˈdʊər ɪs, ˈdyʊər- /

noun

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

   Synonyms:

   pressure, intimidation

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.

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duress British  

/ 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

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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

Example Sentences

"We still do not know exactly what we are signing up to, and are essentially doing so under duress."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Amodei called the memo an "out-of-date assessment of the current situation," written under duress on a day that saw his company under extreme pressure from the government.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Haggis has its defenders, but it is not, for most Americans, a food you crave under emotional duress.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

My first experience was under duress in eighth grade from the deadlines.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 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

Related Words

• coercion