coerce

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: co=erce

CIDE DICTIONARY

coerce, v. t. [L. coërcere; co- + arcere to shut up, to press together. See Ark.].

•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  To compel or constrain to any action; as, to coerce a man to vote for a certain candidate.  [1913 Webster]
•  To compel or enforce; as, to coerce obedience.

Syn. -- To Coerce, Compel.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

coerce, v.tr. (often foll. by into) persuade or restrain (an unwilling person) by force (coerced you into signing).

Derivative

coercible adj.

Etymology

ME f. L coercere restrain (as CO-, arcere restrain)

THESAURUS

coerce

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

ROGET THESAURUS

coerce

Severity

VB be severe, assume, usurp, arrogate, take liberties, domineer, bully, tyrannize, inflict, wreak, stretch a point, put on the screw, be hard upon, bear a heavy hand on, lay a heavy hand on, be down upon, come down upon, ill treat, deal hardly with, deal hard measure to, rule with a rod of iron, chastise with scorpions, dye with blood, oppress, override, trample under foot, tread under foot, tread upon, trample upon, tread down upon, trample down upon, crush under an iron heel, ride roughshod over, rivet the yoke, hold a tight hand, keep a tight hand, force down the throat, coerce, give no quarter.

Compulsion

VB compel, force, make, drive, coerce, constrain, enforce, necessitate, oblige, force upon, press, cram down the throat, thrust down the throat, force down the throat, say it must be done, make a point of, insist upon, take no denial, put down, dragoon, extort, wring from, squeeze, put on the squeeze, put on the screws, turn on the screw, drag into, bind, bind over, pin down, tie down, require, tax, put in force, commandeer, restrain.

Restraint

VB restrain, check, put under restraint, lay under restraint, enthral, enthrall, inthral, inthrall, bethral, bethrall, restrict, debar, constrain, coerce, curb, control, hold back, hold from, hold in, hold in check, hold within bounds, keep back, keep from, keep in, keep in check, keep within bounds, hold in leash, hold in leading strings, withhold, keep under, repress, suppress, smother, pull in, rein in, hold, hold fast, keep a tight hand on, prohibit, inhibit, cohibit, enchain, fasten, fetter, shackle, entrammel, bridle, muzzle, hopple, gag, pinion, manacle, handcuff, tie one's hands, hobble, bind hand and foot, swathe, swaddle, pin down, tether, picket, tie down, tie up, secure, forge fetters, disable, hamstring (incapacitate), confine, shut up, shut in, clap up, lock up, box up, mew up, bottle up, cork up, seal up, button up, hem in, bolt in, wall in, rail in, impound, pen, coop, inclose, cage, incage, encage, close the door upon, cloister, imprison, immure, incarcerate, entomb, clap under hatches, lay under hatches, put in irons, put in a strait-waistcoat, throw into prison, cast into prison, put into bilboes, arrest, take up, take charge of, take into custody, take prisoner, take captive, make prisoner, make captive, captivate, lead captive, lead into captivity, send to prison, commit to prison, commit, give in charge, give in custody, subjugate.