as in compels
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
was coerced into signing the document
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Recent Examples of coerces
However, the rotation of this filament clearly dominates how the galaxies within it spin, perhaps by funneling hydrogen gas along the dark-matter filament and onto the galaxies in a way that coerces their spin while providing further fuel for star formation.
—
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
While China often threatens and coerces other countries, such as in disputes with South Korea and Australia, its actions are often triggered by events that China feels directly threaten its core interests.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
Compulsory heterosexuality is a theoretical framework coined by lesbian scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 to describe how heterosexuality as an institution compels and coerces female sexuality for patriarchal purposes.
—Quispe López, Them., 27 Aug. 2025
The Fate of the Furious (2017) The first film in the franchise since Tokyo Drift not to feature Walker, the eighth movie sees Charlize Theron as a cyberterrorist named Cipher who coerces Dom into working for her and turns him against his team.
—Adam England, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, Ali, a university professor, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025
While China often threatens and coerces other countries, such as in disputes with South Korea and Australia, its actions are often triggered by events that China feels directly threaten its core interests.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
Compulsory heterosexuality is a theoretical framework coined by lesbian scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 to describe how heterosexuality as an institution compels and coerces female sexuality for patriarchal purposes.
—Quispe López, Them., 27 Aug. 2025
The Fate of the Furious (2017) The first film in the franchise since Tokyo Drift not to feature Walker, the eighth movie sees Charlize Theron as a cyberterrorist named Cipher who coerces Dom into working for her and turns him against his team.
—Adam England, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coerces
Verb
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This same self-centeredness compels his girlfriend (Olivia Thirlby) to move out of their modest apartment without warning.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
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North Carolina requires vaccines without enforcement State law compels North Carolina school principals to require that kindergartners get seven vaccinations within 30 days of the start of the school year.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Said quest forces her to reexamine a revelatory affair with an RAF pilot, and consider how their engagement’s cruel ending set her on the path to a different sort of fulfillment.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
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The precarious state of her mind forces us to question whether Sylvia and Ted are ghosts, hallucinations or literary inventions sprung to life.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hayley obliges, perhaps too enthusiastically, prompting Yasmin to get involved in the action herself so as not to be outdone in the endless game of power play.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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The senior wants the ball and Lake Travis obliges in giving it to him.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Orange County’s agreement with ICE only obligates the county to detain up to 114 people, but the county was housing, on average, 140 inmates a day in January and last week, the count hit 182.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
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The federal law dating back to 1967 obligates government agencies to turn over records to the public with some exceptions.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
13 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coerces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coerces. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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