S. L. A. Marshall
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Duress: Its Origin and Relations
Duress is most often paired with the word under to refer to force or threats meant to make someone do something. For example, someone forced to sign a document signs it “under duress,” and a person held “under duress” is not free to leave but is being constrained, usually unlawfully. (Do not confuse being “under duress” with being “under stress,” which is a much more common occurrence.) Duress is ultimately from Latin durus, meaning "hard," source too of durable and endure.
Synonyms
Examples of duress in a Sentence
Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025
As the mourning ends, forcing his return, Anand must decide the fate of his relationship born under duress.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
Stroud has been under duress the entire game, as the Chiefs' defense has been all over the Texans the entire time.
—James Brizuela, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
Don’t Act on Emotion: Selling a home or making significant decisions under duress can lead to regret.
—John Hope Bryant, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Duress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duress. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
duress
noun
Legal Definition
duress
noun
Note: A person may be able to avoid the consequences of his or her acts under the law if they were performed while under duress. For example, a contract made under duress is voidable by the coerced party. Similarly, a will signed under duress is invalid. Duress may also be used to justify a criminal act.
Anglo-French duresce, literally, hardness, harshness, from Old French, from Latin duritia, from durus hard
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