coerce
to compel someone to act through force or threats
Word origin: From Latin coercere, to restrain (co- together plus arcere to enclose).
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.
Using “coerce” well
Coerce means to compel through force or threat. It stands opposite to cajole and persuade, which secure agreement willingly.
More GRE words starting with C
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Questions about “coerce”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
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