What does "coercion" mean?
Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
Coercion
/koʊˈɜːʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
- Grammar: coercion is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: compulsion, argumentum baculinum, badgering, blackmail.
- Useful contrasts: danish frihed, gentle tug, individual autonomy.
- Usage evidence: If you don't listen to us, we will have to resort to coercion.
How to use "coercion"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "coercion" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "coercion" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "coercion" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "coercion" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "coercion" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "compulsion" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "coercion", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing. uncountable
"One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of life free from coercion."
- 2 using force to cause something to occur wordnet
- 3 Use of physical or moral force to compel a person to do something, or to abstain from doing something, thereby depriving that person of the exercise of free will. uncountable
- 4 the act of compelling by force of authority wordnet
- 5 A specific instance of coercing. countable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Conversion of a value of one data type to a value of another data type. countable
- 7 The process by which the meaning of a word or other linguistic element is reinterpreted to match the grammatical context. countable, uncountable
"But often the pieces of information do not fit together and have to be shifted in meaning to confirm with the rest of the sentence. These shifts are called coercion"
- 8 The initiation or threat of conflict; aggression. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
danish frihedgentle tugindividual autonomyindividual choice
Example
"If you don't listen to us, we will have to resort to coercion."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "coercion"?
Common synonyms include: compulsion, argumentum baculinum, badgering, blackmail, blackmailing, blackmails.
How do you use "coercion" in a sentence?
If you don't listen to us, we will have to resort to coercion.
How do you pronounce "coercion"?
Pronounced /koʊˈɜːʃən/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English cohercioun, from Old French cohercion, from Latin coërcitiō (“magisterial coercion”), from past participle coercitus of coërceō (“to restrain, coerce”), from co- (“with”) + arceō (“to shut in, enclose”); see coerce.