noun

duress

dyuu-REHS

noun

Pressure or threats used to force someone into doing something against their will.

"She signed the confession under duress, with an officer looming over her."

"The contract was ruled invalid because it had been signed under duress."

verb

To force someone into an action through threats or pressure.

"They tried to duress him into handing over the keys."

How to Use Duress

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing forced or pressured into something, usually through threats rather than physical violence.

Common mistake

Almost always used with "under" — "under duress" — rather than as a standalone verb, which is rare outside legal writing.

Common pairings

under duress sign under duress act under duress

duressed past tense, duresses singular

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She signed the confession under _____, with an officer looming over her.

From Old French duresse, "hardness," from Latin durus, "hard" — the same root that gives us "durable" and "endure."