as in to compel
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
was coerced into signing the document
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Recent Examples of coerce
One coerced a maintenance worker into shutting off water to a cell, allowing the escapees to rip out a toilet and sink unit and climb through a hole in the wall, officials said.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Labor shortages and xenophobic tensions against migrants will heighten the challenge, raising the likelihood that the government will have to coerce the population on a larger scale.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
During her first two days on the stand this week, federal prosecutors asked Ventura how Combs allegedly abused her and coerced her into taking part in the Freak Offs.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 16 May 2025
The accusations span decades and include allegations of drugging, coercing, and assaulting young women in environments tightly controlled by the music mogul.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for coerce
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Labor shortages and xenophobic tensions against migrants will heighten the challenge, raising the likelihood that the government will have to coerce the population on a larger scale.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
During her first two days on the stand this week, federal prosecutors asked Ventura how Combs allegedly abused her and coerced her into taking part in the Freak Offs.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 16 May 2025
The accusations span decades and include allegations of drugging, coercing, and assaulting young women in environments tightly controlled by the music mogul.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for coerce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coerce
Verb
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In a conversation with Harvard Business School, Sam Altman observes that the rise of AI will compel us to rethink jobs and society.—
Arafat Kabir,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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So when California sets new emission standards – and other states follow – the auto industry is compelled to adopt them.—
Francine Kiefer,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 June 2025
Verb
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That gives you a puncher’s chance against a team that runs on makes and misses and forces defensive miscues by sheer virtue of its pace of play.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
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Set in the winter of 1591, the play unfolds across three clandestine meetings where the rival playwrights are forced into creative collaboration amid a climate of conspiracy and paranoia.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Last month, a Los Angeles judge ruled that Sony was no longer obligated to provide episodes to CBS, which has served for decades as the conduit, delivering batches of episodes to television stations around the country.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
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Are the writer’s managers, who’re also producers on the movie, obligated to disclose the bump and renegotiate their client’s pay?—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2025
Verb
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In a debate with his opponent in late May, Trzaskowski spoke out about the upcoming EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which in theory could oblige Poland to take more refugees from the Middle East and Africa or face penalties.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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If the Guardians were looking for the slider this time, Soriano didn’t oblige.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coerce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coerce. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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