as in persistent
formal
using force or threats to make someone do something; using coercion
coercive measures
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Recent Examples of coercive
January’s massacre of more than 30,000 Iranians by regime security forces remains a brutal reminder of what peaceful demonstrators face when confronting a coercive state.
—
Richard Goldberg, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Its ballistic missile arsenal and advancing nuclear program gave it coercive leverage that no neighbor could ignore.
—Andrew Ghalili, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
American power is not forged through coercive foreign adventures but is built on the economic dynamism of its states.
—Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
What earlier artists were required to conceal—the violence of communist transformation, the coercive pressure converting practice into state apparatus—Meldibekov’s installations make forensically available.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Richard Goldberg, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Its ballistic missile arsenal and advancing nuclear program gave it coercive leverage that no neighbor could ignore.
—Andrew Ghalili, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
American power is not forged through coercive foreign adventures but is built on the economic dynamism of its states.
—Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
What earlier artists were required to conceal—the violence of communist transformation, the coercive pressure converting practice into state apparatus—Meldibekov’s installations make forensically available.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercive
Adjective
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Three more ski areas in Colorado are set to close up shop at the end of the week due to persistent warm weather and low snowpack.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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The arm-side miss fell in line with a persistent spring-training pattern for Sasaki, who struggled with command from his first Cactus League start through his Freeway Series appearance last week.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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First, and most pressing, is the energy shock resulting from the Strait’s effective closure.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
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But maybe no questions are more pressing than how to handle defense.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercive. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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