Coercion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kō-ˈər-zhən/ co·er·cion

Meaning & Definition of Coercion

Coercion (noun)

  1. the act, process, or power of coercing

Coercion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the use of power to impose one's will on another

    "a promise obtained by coercion is never binding"

    similar: arm-twisting, compulsion, constraint, duress, force, pressure
    related: browbeating, bulldozing, bullying, fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence, squeeze, squeeze play, might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength, hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness, strain, stress
    near: agreement, approval, consent, permission, convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Coercion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Coercion:

arm-twisting, compulsion, constraint, duress, force, pressure

Related Words for Coercion

browbeating, bulldozing, bullying, fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence, squeeze, squeeze play, might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength, hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness, strain, stress

Near Antonyms of Coercion

agreement, approval, consent, permission, convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion

Origin & Etymology of Coercion

Middle English cohercion, borrowed from Anglo-French cohercioun, borrowed from Late Latin coerctiōn-, coerctiō, by-form of Latin coercitiōn-, coercitiō, from coerci-, variant stem of coercēre "to coerce" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Coercion

Frequently Asked Questions about Coercion

What does "Coercion" mean?

"Coercion" means the act, process, or power of coercing. As a noun, it is defined as: the act, process, or power of coercing.

What is another word for "Coercion"?

Other words for "Coercion" include arm-twisting, compulsion, constraint, duress, force and pressure. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Coercion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Coercion"?

There are 29 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Coercion". Common alternatives include arm-twisting, compulsion, constraint, duress, force and pressure.

How do you use "Coercion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Coercion" in a sentence: "a promise obtained by coercion is never binding".

Is "Coercion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Coercion" is a noun.

Is "Coercion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Coercion" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Coercion"?

"Coercion" is pronounced /kō-ˈər-zhən/ and divided into syllables as co·er·cion.

What is the origin of the word "Coercion"?

"Coercion" comes from Middle English cohercion, borrowed from Anglo-French cohercioun, borrowed from Late Latin coerctiōn-, coerctiō, by-form of Latin coercitiōn-, coercitiō, from coerci-, variant stem of coercēre "to coerce" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action. First known use: 15th century.