Co-ērce', v. t.

(14), v. t. [imp. & p. p. COERCED; p. pr. & vb. n. COERCING.] [Lat. coercere, from co, for con, and arcere, to shut up, to press together.] To restrain by force; to compel; to constrain; to repress; as, to coerce obedience. “To be coerced his liberty until he makes payment.” Burke.

A prisoner of war is on no account to be coerced with fetters. W. Scott.

Synonyms—To COERCE, COMPEL. To compel denotes to urge on by force which can not be resisted. The term applies equally to physical and moral force; as, compelled by hunger; compelled by adverse circumstances; compelled by parental affection. Coerce had at first only the negative sense of checking or restraining by force; as, to coerce subjects within the bounds of law. It has now gained a positive sense, viz., that of driving a person into the performance of some act which is required of him by another; as, to coerce compliance with the conditions of a contract; to coerce obedience. In this sense (which is now the prevailing one), coerce differs but little from compel, and yet there is a distinction between them. Coercion is usually accomplished by indirect means, as by the operation of law or the force of circumstances. Threats and intimidation are very often resorted to. Physical force is more rarely employed.