All words

coerce

Meaning

To influence or make someone do something through the use of threats, intimidation, or superior power.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

Liam felt upset when his older brother tried to coerce him into putting the blame for the broken vase on their younger sister. He did not want to lie but the strong pressure made it hard to say no. In the end, he told the truth.

He felt trapped, the threat of losing his home a heavy weight. They tried to coerce him into signing the paper, to compel him to an act he didn't want. His stomach churned, but he stood firm, refusing to be forced.

When the boss threatened to fire him if he didn't sign the new contract, Mark felt trapped. He knew they were trying to coerce him into accepting unfair terms, but he needed the job too badly to refuse. His hands shook as he picked up the pen.

Martha tried to coerce her cat into wearing a tiny sweater by waving treats in one hand and the sweater in the other. The cat, however, decided to compel Martha to act instead by disappearing under the bed, leaving Martha with just the sweater and her pride.

The tiny squirrel, eyes wide and bushy tail twitching, tried to coerce the fluffy cat into giving up its sunbeam. It chattered loudly and even tried to push a nut towards the feline, hoping to compel a change of mind. The cat just yawned.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

The teacher tried to coerce the students into participating in the class discussion by offering extra credit for those who raised their hands and shared their thoughts.

The dark figure stood over her, his eyes filled with malice. "You will do as I say," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine as he reached out to grab her arm, his grip strong and unyielding. She knew she had no choice but to obey, as he continued to coerce her into doing his bidding. The fear and helplessness consumed her as she realized she was at the mercy of a ruthless predator, forced to submit to his every command.

In the desolate wasteland, they came upon a group huddled in fear. A monstrous creature coerced them to march forward, its gruesome claws dragging the feeble into the unknown. The air grew heavy with terror as the creature's hoarse voice echoed: "You shall succumb to my will. No resistance..."

The evil sorcerer used his dark magic to coerce the villagers into giving him their crops. With a wave of his wand, he compelled them to obey his every command, leaving them no choice but to hand over their hard-earned harvest. The villagers trembled in fear as they realized they were powerless against his wicked spells. But little did the sorcerer know, a brave young hero was gathering allies to stand up against him and free the villagers from his coercive grip. The battle for freedom and justice was about to begin.

Against the backdrop of the ancient forest, the sorcerer's gaze held the young knight captive. His voice, like a serpent's whisper, slithered through the air. "Surrender your sword, young one," he urged. "Resistance will be met with dire consequences. Yield to my will, and I shall spare you." The knight's resolve wavered as the sorcerer's words seeped into his mind. Coerced by the threat of harm, he reluctantly relinquished his weapon.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

When Sarah refused to lend her notes, Mike tried to coerce her by threatening to tell the teacher she had cheated, even though it was not true. She felt trapped by his threat, forced to give in to protect herself from trouble she did not deserve.

He felt a knot tighten in his stomach as the manager’s gaze bore into him, making him coerce a smile and agree to work the extra shift, even though his family was expecting him.

The manager tried to coerce Sarah into working overtime, using subtle threats about her upcoming performance review. She felt trapped, knowing her job security hung in the balance if she refused, but she also understood her rights and wasn't going to be manipulated easily.

When Edna waved a slice of triple-chocolate cake under her brother’s nose, she tried to coerce him into washing her dishes—knowing full well he would resist anything except dessert. Faced with gooey temptation, he reluctantly agreed, grumbling about sugar-induced servitude.

The relentless badger, armed with a menacingly large muffin, sought to coerce the squirrel into forfeiting its prize. Its tiny, beady eyes, full of pastry-induced determination, stared down the trembling rodent, who knew that surrender was inevitable, lest it face a crumb-laden doom.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

Even though Mark tried to reason with his boss, he felt her attempts to coerce him into falsifying the report. The pressure was not a suggestion but a command. It was clear she intended to compel him to an act against his conscience.

His domineering father would relentlessly pressure him, trying to coerce him into joining the family business. The boy yearned for a different path, but the constant insistence felt like a suffocating shroud, leaving him little room to choose.

The bully's menacing glare and aggressive posture tried to coerce Jason into handing over his lunch money. Trembling, Jason felt the pressure mounting, knowing resistance might provoke a more violent confrontation if he didn't comply with the unspoken threat.

Despite his sister’s futile attempts to coerce him into relinquishing the television remote, Maxwell remained steadfast, employing a diabolical combination of marathon channel surfing and melodramatic sighs that left her oscillating between exasperation and reluctant admiration for his unparalleled obstinacy.

The exasperated magician, perpetually vexed by his sentient rabbit's reluctance to perform, resorted to a rather unorthodox strategy. He’d brandish a carrot, not for sustenance, but to subtly coerce the bunny into a particularly harrowing disappearing act, ensuring the evening's finale.

Difficulty

Normal — Everyday words worth reinforcing.

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