coercion

/koʊˈʌrʒɪn/

/kəʊˈʌʃən/

Other forms: coercions

Coercion is making something happen by force, like when bullies use coercion to make kids give them their lunch money.

Coercion can be a threat, "The shady lawyer uses coercion when he threatens to get the waiter fired if he doesn't rat out his boss," or it can be actual brute force, as when the gangster breaks the messenger's leg to keep her from talking to the police. The police might use coercion, too, to get a confession. The prefix co- is derived from the Latin word for "together." So you can't use coercion on yourself; you need someone else to force into doing something.

Definitions of coercion

1. noun

   using force to cause something to occur
   “they didn't have to use coercion”

   synonyms: compulsion

   types:

   constructive eviction, eviction

   action by a landlord that compels a tenant to leave the premises (as by rendering the premises unfit for occupancy); no physical expulsion or legal process is involved

   type of:

   causation, causing

   the act of causing something to happen
2. noun

   the act of compelling by force of authority
   types:

   terror

   the use of extreme fear in order to coerce people (especially for political reasons)

   act of terrorism, terrorism, terrorist act

   the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear

   type of:

   enforcement

   the act of enforcing; ensuring observance of or obedience to