v.
Pronunciation: k ō - ' ə rs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: co · erced ; co · erc · ing
Etymology: Middle English cohercen, from Anglo-French *cohercer Latin coerc ē re, from co- + arc ē re to shut up, enclose ― more at ARK
Date: 15th century
1 : to restrain or dominate by force <religion in the past has tried to coerce the irreligious ― W. R. Inge>
2 : to compel to an act or choice <was coerced into agreeing>
3 : to achieve by force or threat < coerce compliance>
synonyms see FORCE
– co · erc · ible \ - ' ə r-s ə -b ə l \ adjective