duress.

Pressure involving threats or force that leaves someone acting against their free choice.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• under duress
• sign under duress
• economic duress

On the page

She signed under duress, with the captor's hand resting on her brother's shoulder.

The witness said nothing about the bargain until the court asked whether it had been made under duress.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: Uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.