coercion
noun
co·er·cion
kō-ˈər-zhən 
-shən
: the act, process, or power of coercing
They used coercion to obtain the confession.
Examples of coercion in a Sentence
a promise obtained by coercion is never binding
Recent Examples on the Web
This era demonstrated how hegemony involves more than coercion.
—
Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Ventura Fine finally came forward in November 2023, filing a lawsuit alleging that Combs kept her locked in the abusive relationship through frequent beatings, coercion, control over her career and blackmail.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 29 May 2025
For instance, joint statements issued at the G-7 summit last month and at the Munich Security Conference in February reaffirmed cross-strait stability and expressed opposition to any unilateral actions that threaten peace in the Taiwan Strait, including through force or coercion.
—Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
And once westerners began to demand ‘orphans’ from a country, the incentives for adoption agencies to provide them only increased, leading to more coercion and fraud.
—Time, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
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Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Ventura Fine finally came forward in November 2023, filing a lawsuit alleging that Combs kept her locked in the abusive relationship through frequent beatings, coercion, control over her career and blackmail.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 29 May 2025
For instance, joint statements issued at the G-7 summit last month and at the Munich Security Conference in February reaffirmed cross-strait stability and expressed opposition to any unilateral actions that threaten peace in the Taiwan Strait, including through force or coercion.
—Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 20 May 2025
And once westerners began to demand ‘orphans’ from a country, the incentives for adoption agencies to provide them only increased, leading to more coercion and fraud.
—Time, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Cite this Entry
“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coercion. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
coercion
noun
co·er·cion
kō-ˈər-zhən, -shən
: the use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal (as discharge from employment) or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will
also
: the defense that one acted under coercion see also defense, duress compare undue influence
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