as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
a promise obtained by coercion is never binding
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of coercion
The call came as Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and has threatened to use economic coercion to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, a position that has infuriated Canadians.
—
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
Moscow stepped up its economic coercion, political meddling, and military aggression to stymie its neighbors’ progress toward democracy and European integration.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Myrie, a lawyer, said that Trump’s threats of withholding federal funds as punishment for the city bucking certain directives amounts to coercion under the 10th Amendment, which emphasizes that the federal government has only the powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Trump has unnerved Greenland's leaders by offering to purchase it from Denmark − without ruling out military action or economic coercion.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
Moscow stepped up its economic coercion, political meddling, and military aggression to stymie its neighbors’ progress toward democracy and European integration.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
Myrie, a lawyer, said that Trump’s threats of withholding federal funds as punishment for the city bucking certain directives amounts to coercion under the 10th Amendment, which emphasizes that the federal government has only the powers explicitly granted to it by the Constitution.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Trump has unnerved Greenland's leaders by offering to purchase it from Denmark − without ruling out military action or economic coercion.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coercion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercion
Noun
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The Fed's most potent weapon against inflation is to ratchet up or maintain higher interest rates, because an increase in borrowing costs slows economic demand, which eases inflationary pressures.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
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After wriggling away from pressure, Watkins’ strike deflected off Schar and past Nick Pope in goal.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Lynch’s installment, Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood, is executive produced by Angela Bassett and Academy Award winner Halle Berry, and highlights Black women who have led films while navigating a different set of expectations, constraints, and pressures.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
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For conservatives who genuinely care about limiting executive power and enforcing constitutional constraints, these tariffs present a moment of truth.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Every Wednesday, women in Iran would film videos of themselves walking unveiled, a peaceful protest against compulsion.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Creating collages is almost a compulsion, a way for Jarmusch to escape from the world and nestle into self-reflection.—
Renée Reizman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Abby’s friends are nervous, even disgusted at this point, horrified at her capacity for violence.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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More than 1,700 people have been killed this year— 1,086 in February and March, according to the U.N. — in violence fueled by criminal groups trying to expand their territorial control and overthrow the government.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coercion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercion. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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