COERCED Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

coerced 1 of 2

adjective

as in unwilling

not made or done willingly or by choice coerced participation that couldn't last

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

coerced

2 of 2

verb

past tense of coerce

as in forced

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure was coerced into signing the document

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of coerced

Adjective

Human rights groups have accused Iranian authorities of denying defendants due process, relying on coerced confessions and carrying out executions after unfair trials. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Such coerced displacement did not — and could not — extinguish rights guaranteed by a still-valid agreement. — Shaun Chapoose, Denver Post, 20 May 2026 Russia has targeted the children through coerced adoption and family separation, forcing them to speak the Russian language and take on its cultural identity and customs — what’s known as Russification. — Shahrzad Rasekh, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 The third would allow survivors of coerced debt to formally challenge such obligations with a creditor, and the last would create a program to help survivors get home security to protect themselves from future harm. — Lauren Linder, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026 And despite widespread reporting about coerced conscription in Russia, Ukraine has engaged in the same practice, with some new recruits sent to the front without adequate training. — Olivier Kempf, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Arcangela Tarabotti, a seventeenth-century Venetian nun who was put into a convent against her will, wrote a critique of coerced enclosure that begins by eviscerating the idea that men are by nature superior to women. — Chandler Fritz, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2026 Deradicalization is equally vital—not as a coerced reeducation, but as part of a healing process that encompasses Israelis as well as Palestinians. — Samer Sinijlawi, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025 Prosecutors retried one of the men, John Kogut – who had made a coerced confession to the murder – but he was acquitted. — Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025

Verb

The inspection followed a hunger strike by detainees, who in a letter, complained about rotten or worm-infested food, medical neglect, and being coerced into signing deportation orders. — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026 In 1963, the Supreme Court banned confessions given under scopolamine and other truth-inducers as unconstitutionally coerced. — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026 Attorney Jesse Dreicer suggested Tenon made false statements and his confession to the shooting was coerced. — Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Shuter also pointed out that Pitt was clearly not coerced into talking about his drinking by a pushy magazine writer. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 Jawad Boulos, who was Sarsour's lawyer when he was charged in Israel decades ago, testified that Sarsour was tortured in Israeli custody and coerced into making confessions. — CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Ripley, Tinkler Mendez added, didn’t appear to be coerced and remained cooperative hours into questioning. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026 Kohberger, who was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 10 years, claims in a handwritten affidavit that he was coerced into a false confession and misled by his original defense team. — Chadd Cripe. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026 Advocates who filed the lawsuit are concerned that people with disabilities will be steered toward or coerced into using this option. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coerced

Adjective

The first-generation Apple Watch SE is a practical entry point for someone curious about the Apple Watch but unwilling to pay flagship prices.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
The Iranians have now discovered the power of their geography and seem unwilling to give up on controlling/administering the Strait of Hormuz.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of unwilling

Verb

As more cars wrecked behind the incident, NASCAR was forced to throw the caution flag — freezing the field with Preece in front.

— Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Sometimes, operators were forced to drain one pond and divert its water to save fish in another, the Hungarian Aquaculture and Fisheries Inter-branch Organization said in early August.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of forced

Adjective

Because of spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization in its crystal structure, GaN heterostructures can naturally induce extremely thin sheets of mobile electrons and holes.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
With a vehicle this size, 180 hp isn't exactly a recipe for spontaneous joy.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of spontaneous

Verb

Management also gave positive forward-looking guidance, marked by a record current quarter pipeline that compelled it to raise its full-year top-line growth forecast.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
If she were truly compelled by a voice, Sprague said, Clancy would have succeeded.

— Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of compelled

Adjective

This included expert witnesses who said the child’s death was an accidental drowning brought on by a seizure and a jailhouse informant who recanted his trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime.

— Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
In all three cases, authorities have appeared to suggest their deaths were accidental.

— Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of accidental

Verb

This tweak doubles the amount of time a player is obliged to wait on the sidelines from 30 seconds to one minute.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
There’s also a June 4 deadline for the expiration of a deal, with Paramount obliged to pay a $7 billion termination fee.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of obliged

Verb

The Fed might then feel obligated to stand by its guidance, going down the wrong path.

— Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
However, Microsoft has signed significant long-term data center leases — and those are considered liabilities under accounting rules, given the company is obligated to make regular lease payments.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of obligated

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“Coerced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coerced. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of coerced

adjective

verb

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