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

It’s a cat-and-mouse movie with some initiative, and even if that drive ultimately goes nowhere, the film at least manages to make its characters’ strength under duress believable.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Canada’s economy is struggling with slow growth, with manufacturers under duress from hefty U.S. tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Proving that your mother approved this transaction would require written authorization or a gift agreement, and proof that she understood the transaction and was not under duress.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 11, 2026

The third for setting fire to her Housemistress’s false-hair bun, which, under duress, Rahel confessed to having stolen.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Related Words

• coercion