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GRE vocabulary

coerce

verbHigh-frequency wordMore C words

to compel someone to act through force or threats

Word origin: From Latin coercere, to restrain (co- together plus arcere to enclose).

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In a sentence

Coerce in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing coerce in a sentence.

The witness claimed he had been coerced into signing the statement.

The witness claimed she had been coerced into signing a statement she did not believe.

Synonyms
forcecompelpressureintimidate
Antonyms
persuadecoaxcajole

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Verbal · Text Completion

Critics initially dismissed the composer's late works as merely blank, but later scholars recognized in them a deliberate restraint that concealed considerable technical sophistication.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “coerce” well

Coerce means to compel through force or threat. It stands opposite to cajole and persuade, which secure agreement willingly.

Common questions

Questions about “coerce”

Coerce (verb) means to compel someone to act through force or threats
Here is coerce used in an example sentence: "The witness claimed he had been coerced into signing the statement." Another example: "The witness claimed she had been coerced into signing a statement she did not believe."
Common synonyms for coerce include force, compel, pressure, intimidate.
Antonyms of coerce include persuade, coax, cajole.
Coerce clusters with force, compel, pressure, and intimidate. Its antonyms persuade, coax, and cajole mark the willing-agreement answers; cajole is a classic opposite trap.
Yes. Coerce is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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