coerce

Pronunciation: /koʊˈɝs/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :

Etymology

From Latin coërceō (“to surround, encompass, restrain, control, curb”), from co- (“together”) + arceō (“to inclose, confine, keep off”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

hale, squeeze, pressure, force

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
compel
Narrower (hyponyms)
steamroller, turn up the heat, bring oneself, bludgeon, dragoon, terrorize

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →