adjective
Uncommon
coercive
koh-UR-siv
Coercive (adjective) means using force, threats or pressure to make someone do something against their will. Example: “The contract was signed under coercive pressure from the lender.”
adjective
1
Using force, threats or pressure to make someone do something against their will.
"The contract was signed under coercive pressure from the lender."
"Campaigners argue the questioning techniques were coercive."
2
legal and social policy Describing a sustained pattern of controlling behaviour in a relationship, such as isolating, monitoring or humiliating a partner. Chiefly in the phrase coercive control.
"Coercive control became a criminal offence in England and Wales in 2015."
"She described a coercive relationship in which every purchase had to be justified."
How to use coercive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMaking someone do something by frightening or pressuring them.
When to use it
Formal and always negative; the related noun is coercion and the verb is coerce.
Memory tip
Coerce takes a person plus into: he was coerced into signing, not coerced to signing.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
coercive control
coercive measures
coercive tactics
coercive power
coercive and controlling behaviour
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The contract was signed under _____ pressure from the lender.
Etymology
From Latin coercere meaning to restrain, from co- together and arcere to shut in.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for coercive
See all rhymes for coercive →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between coercive and persuasive?
Persuasion changes someone's mind by giving them reasons, and they remain free to say no. Coercion removes that freedom by attaching a threat or penalty to refusal. The test is whether the person could have declined without harm.
What is coercive control?
It is a pattern of behaviour used to dominate a partner or family member through isolation, surveillance, financial restriction, threats and humiliation, rather than through a single violent act. Several countries now treat it as a criminal offence in its own right.
Is coercive the same as abusive?
They overlap heavily but are not identical. Abuse covers a wide range of harm including physical violence, while coercive specifically describes pressure that overrides another person's choice.
What is the meaning of coercive?
"coercive" (adjective) means using force, threats or pressure to make someone do something against their will.
