'Coerce' definitions:
Definition of 'coerce'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Coerce'
From: GCIDE
- Coerce \Co*erce"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Coercing.] [L. co["e]rcere; co- + arcere to shut up, to press together. See Ark.]
- 1. To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to repress; to curb. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
- Punishments are manifold, that they may coerce this profligate sort. --Ayliffe. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To compel or constrain to any action; as, to coerce a man to vote for a certain candidate. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To compel or enforce; as, to coerce obedience.
- Syn: To Coerce, Compel.
- Usage: To compel denotes to urge on by force which cannot be resisted. The term aplies equally to physical and moral force; as, compelled by hunger; compelled adverse circumstances; compelled by parental affection. Coerce had at first only the negative sense of checking or restraining by force; as, to coerce a bad man by punishments or a prisoner with fetters. It has now gained a positive sense., viz., that of driving a person into the performance of some act which is required of him by another; as, to coerce a man to sign a contract; to coerce obedience. In this sense (which is now the prevailing one), coerce differs but little from compel, and yet there is a distinction between them. Coercion is usually acomplished by indirect means, as threats and intimidation, physical force being more rarely employed in coercing. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'coerce'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- beat down,
- beset,
- blackjack,
- bludgeon,
- break,
- browbeat,
- bulldoze,
- bully,
- castrate,
- clamp down on,
- compel,
- concuss,
- constrain,
- cow,
- daunt,
- despotize,
- domineer,
- domineer over,
- dragoon,
- enslave,
- grind,
- grind down,
- henpeck,
- hijack,
- intimidate,
- keep down,
- keep under,
- lord it over,
- make,
- menace,
- oblige,
- oppress,
- overawe,
- overbear,
- overmaster,
- override,
- press heavy on,
- push,
- repress,
- ride over,
- ride roughshod over,
- shanghai,
- shotgun,
- steamroller,
- strong-arm,
- subjugate,
- suppress,
- terrorize,
- threaten,
- trample down,
- trample upon,
- tread down,
- tread upon,
- tyrannize,
- tyrannize over,
- unman,
- urge,
- use violence,
- walk all over,
- walk over,
- weigh heavy on