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
One reason adoption of coercive control consideration has been slow is that the concept can be unjustly applied to victims themselves.
—
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Christopher Trybus, Baird's husband, was tried on charges of manslaughter, coercive control and rape in connection with her death, but was found not guilty of them all on Wednesday, April 22, nearly nine years after her death, according to the BBC and The Times.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The lawyer noted the statement could be suppressed in court if it was obtained through leading questions, a prolonged interrogation, or coercive tactics.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
This is especially true when the goal is not support but coercive efforts to change someone’s identity.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Christopher Trybus, Baird's husband, was tried on charges of manslaughter, coercive control and rape in connection with her death, but was found not guilty of them all on Wednesday, April 22, nearly nine years after her death, according to the BBC and The Times.
—Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
The lawyer noted the statement could be suppressed in court if it was obtained through leading questions, a prolonged interrogation, or coercive tactics.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
This is especially true when the goal is not support but coercive efforts to change someone’s identity.
—A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coercive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coercive
Adjective
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As a maker, these opposing qualities are persistent and present throughout every part of the process.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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New Gemini models and the ‘Spark’ persistent agent Google is locked in a tight race to dominate the AI market against ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Microsoft, with each company spending billions to get ahead.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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The most pressing issue facing Tarrant County is affordability.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
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This is one of several instances of emotional realism that pierce the film’s temporal veil — turning it, in theory, from a series of recollections into a more pressing and contemporary saga of how war trickles down and transforms the lives of young girls in fundamental ways.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coercive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coercive. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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