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

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

From BBC

What many saw was a cautious career prosecutor who was forced to testify under duress and who deflected questions from both Democrats and Republicans by referring repeatedly to his voluminous report.

From Barron's

Sanders said he still believed Calocane had shown "elements of control, of planning", seemed to be "exhibiting choices" and "did not seem to be under duress".

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• coercion