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coerce Definition

co·erce (kō ʉrs)

transitive verb -·erced, -·erc·ing

  1. to restrain or constrain by force, esp. by legal authority; curb
  2. to force or compel, as by threats, to do something
  3. to bring about by using force; enforce

Etymology: ME cohercen < OFr cohercier < L coercere, to surround, restrain < co-, together + arcere, to confine: see exercise

coerce Related Forms
co·er·cible adjective co·er·cibly adverb
coerce Synonyms

coerce

v.

  1. To force

    impel, compel, constrain, pressure; see force 1, threaten 1.

  2. To restrain

    restrict, constrain, curb, control; see dominate, hinder, restrain 1. See syn. study at force.

coerce Usage Examples

Object

  • treatment: It would therefore appear that DTTOs are reflective of the style of partially coerced treatment adjudged to be the most ethically acceptable.
  • person: Often they " tread on egg-shells " for fear of making matters worse, or they try to coerce the person into stopping.
  • woman: It appears from the article that you find it difficult to believe that GPs could coerce women into a hospital birth.
  • people: The Home Office is to consult on a specific offense to help young people coerced into relationships.
  • government: Today they bribe and coerce governments for the same purposes.
  • child: But, sadly and unfortunately, it has become a standard in our society to force and coerce a young child under a veil.

Subject

  • threat: They have refused to be coerced by the threats to future investments.
  • circumstance: You cannot be coerced by circumstances which arise without a human being involved.

Preposition: into

  • marriage: A forced marriage is one where one or both parties are coerced into a marriage against their will and under duress.
  • sex: Worldwide at least one in every three women is beaten, coerced into sex or abused in her lifetime, usually by her partner.
  • prostitution: The principle objective of the project is to lower the number of young girls ( and boys ) being coerced into prostitution.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: Our youngsters are almost coerced into growing up far too fast and far too soon by some of the pressures and policies around them.
  • not: We are not forced; we are not coerced.
  • n't: A leader does n't coerce people into change that they resist.
  • physically: Jane did everything she could to avoid this marriage, but was physically coerced.
  • actually: Up until 1942, labor service in Germany was theoretically voluntary, but was actually coerced by strong economic and governmental pressure.
  • also: The parsons in both villages were also coerced into promising to reduce by half the income they took from tithes.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • out: I showed him my UK press card and the cover note I managed to coerce out of a UK news agency.

Preposition: in

  • way: They were not being coerced in any way except verbally.

Preposition: by

  • threat: They have refused to be coerced by the threats to future investments.

Browse dictionary entries near coerce

  1. coequal
  2. coenzyme
  3. coenurus
  4. coenosarc
  5. coenocyte
  6. coenobite
  7. coeno-
  8. coenesthesia
  9. coelostat
  10. coelom
  1. coerced confession
  2. coercion
  3. coercive
  4. coercivity
  5. coesite
  6. coessential
  7. coetaneous
  8. coeternal
  9. coeval
  10. coexecutor