coerce

CEFRC1

/kəʊˈɜːs/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To force someone to do something by threats or pressure.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To force an attribute, normally of a data type, to take on the attribute of another data type.

Examples

  • America uses its economic heft to coerce rivals and allies.

  • He said laws should not coerce but protect public health while protecting human rights.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /koʊˈɝs/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To use force, threat, fraud, or intimidation in an attempt to compel one to act against their will.

  2. To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to repress; to curb.

More examples

In context

  • I can try to persuade her to go, but I can't coerce her.

  • They coerced their children into going to the country park.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The manager tried to blank the employee into signing the unfair contract.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Latin coërceō (“to surround, encompass, restrain, control, curb”), from co- (“together”) + arceō (“to inclose, confine, keep off”).