coerced

American  

[koh-ursd] / koʊˈɜrsd /

adjective

1. forced or compelled through intimidation or authority, especially without regard for individual volition.

   A judge decided that key evidence, obtained from a coerced 14-year-old boy, was unreliable.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of coerce.

Other Word Forms

• uncoerced adjective

Etymology

Origin of coerced

coerce ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Many tribal leaders were coerced into signing the original treaties, with limited to no translation support to help them understand what they were signing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

In the end, however, the punditry did not need to be coerced into cheerleading.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

“It’s not forced on you, because then it’s fake, man. If it’s coerced, I don’t buy it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Des Jenson, Benguit's barrister, said that if police had coerced witnesses to lie, "it means that they have manufactured evidence, they've perverted the course of justice".

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

He believes these people to be in the majority in Germany at the present time but feels they are coerced into following Hitler's methods and program.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• compelled
• contrived
• enforced
• involuntary
• mandatory
• unwilling