coerce
Meaning: To compel someone to act through the use of force, threats, intimidation, or other forms of undue pressure.
Coerce is inherently negative — it describes forcing compliance against someone's will. In law, coercion can invalidate contracts and confessions. In political discourse, coercion is contrasted with persuasion and consent. The noun 'coercion' and adjective 'coercive' are equally common. Typical collocations include 'coerce into,' 'coercive control' (a recognised criminal offence in England and Wales), and 'economic coercion.' It is standard in legal, political, and human rights writing.
Examples
- The defendant claimed he had been coerced into signing the confession by officers who threatened his family. 被告声称他是在警察威胁其家人后被迫签署供词的。El acusado alegó que había sido coaccionado para firmar la confesión por agentes que amenazaron a su familia.被告は、家族を脅した警察官に強制されて自白書に署名させられたと主張した。피고인은 가족을 위협한 경찰관들에 의해 자백서에 서명하도록 강요당했다고 주장했다.
- Economic sanctions are sometimes described as a form of coercing states into changing their behaviour. 经济制裁有时被描述为迫使国家改变行为的一种手段。Las sanciones económicas se describen a veces como una forma de coaccionar a los Estados para que modifiquen su comportamiento.経済制裁は、国家の行動を変えさせるための強制手段として説明されることがある。경제 제재는 때때로 국가의 행동을 변화시키기 위한 강제 수단으로 설명된다.
- The new legislation criminalises coercive control within domestic relationships. 新立法将家庭关系中的强制控制行为定为犯罪。La nueva legislación tipifica como delito el control coercitivo en las relaciones domésticas.新法は家庭内における強制的支配を犯罪として規定している。새 법률은 가정 내 강압적 통제(coercive control)를 범죄로 규정하고 있다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: legal, politics, journalism
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From Latin coercere (to enclose, restrain, control), from co- (together) + arcere (to confine, enclose). Entered English in the 15th century, with the modern sense of compelling by force developing in the 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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