compulsion by threat or force; coercion; constraint, a condition of urgency or pressure

under duress, duress code, economic duress

Formal and Informal Expressions of duress

In different contexts, you can replace 'duress' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'coercion, compulsion, constraint' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pressure, force' is a commonplace synonym.

duress: Explore its Definition & Usage

duress Definition

1compulsion by threat or force; coercion; constraint
2a condition of urgency or pressure

Using duress: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "duress" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The confession was made under duress.
Example
He acted under duress when he signed the contract.
Example
The hostages were held under duress for several days.
Example
She agreed to the terms of the contract only under duress.

duress Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for duress

Phrases with duress

under duress
forced to do something against one's will, or under threat of harm or punishment
Example
The suspect confessed to the crime, but later claimed that he did so under duress.
duress code
a secret code used to signal that one is being held under threat or coercion
Example
The bank teller activated the duress code when the robber demanded money at gunpoint.
economic duress
the use of economic pressure or threats to force someone to do something against their will
Example
The company was accused of using economic duress to force its employees to accept pay cuts.

Origins of duress

from Old French 'duresse', meaning 'hardship'

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Summary: duress in Brief

'Duress' [doo-res, dyoo-] refers to compulsion by threat or force, or a condition of urgency or pressure. It can be used to describe situations where someone is forced to do something against their will, as in 'The confession was made under duress.' The phrase 'under duress' is commonly used to indicate that someone is being forced to act against their will, and 'duress code' refers to a secret code used to signal that one is being held under threat or coercion.