Synonyms for coerce
Definitions
- v. 1
To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to repress; to curb.
- v. 2
To use force, threat, fraud, or intimidation in an attempt to compel one to act against their will.
They coerced their children into going to the country park.
Forms
- Past participle
- coerced
e.g. coerced → compelled, forced, driven, constrained…
Choose the right word
Coerce implies the actual or potential use of so much force as may be necessary to secure the surrender of the will; the American secessionists contended that the Federal government had no right to coerce a State.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- squeeze Everyone squeeze together so I can take a picture.
- compel I compel you to adhere to our master's teachings.
- oblige The laws oblige all citizens to pay taxes.
- constrain What human trespass would constrain thy power, O Zeus?
- restrict He feels this new law will restrict his freedom.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| coerce | falling | |
| squeeze | rising | |
| compel | falling | |
| oblige | steady | |
| constrain | rising | |
| restrict | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- make1, hale1
- 5 letters
- force1, drive1, bully2
- 6 letters
- hustle2, compel2, oblige2
- 7 letters
- squeeze1, dragoon
- 8 letters
- pressure2, restrict2, bludgeon2
- 9 letters
- constrain2
- 10 letters
- intimidate4
- 11 letters
- necessitate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (bully2 = 2 syllables).