What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
compelled
Example
I felt compelled to help the homeless man on the street. [compelled: verb]
Example
The circumstances compelled her to take action. [compelled: past tense]
Example
He felt compelled to speak up against the injustice. [compelled: adjective]
coerce
Example
The kidnappers coerced him into giving them the access code. [coerced: verb]
Example
She felt coerced into signing the contract under duress. [coerced: adjective]
Example
The company used coercion tactics to make the employees work overtime. [coercion: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Compelled is more commonly used than coerce in everyday language. Compelled is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while coerce is more specific and often used in negative situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between compelled and coerce?
Both compelled and coerce can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, coerce may be perceived as more formal due to its negative connotation and specific usage.
