coercible

A scientist compresses a coercible gas in a laboratory cylinder.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of being compelled or forced: "coercible" describes a person, entity, or substance that can be subjected to coercion, meaning they can be made to act against their will through pressure, threats, or force.
   • Capable of being compressed or condensed: In a technical or physical sense, "coercible" can refer to a gas or vapor that can be reduced in volume under pressure (archaic or specialized usage).

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The dictator believed that the population was easily coercible through fear. (The people could be forced to obey through threats.)
  • Under the new law, companies are not coercible into signing unfair contracts. (Companies cannot be compelled to agree to unjust terms.)
  • In physics experiments, certain gases are highly coercible, meaning they can be compressed significantly. (The gases can be reduced in volume under pressure.)

Advanced Usage

• "coercible by law": subject to legal compulsion.

  • Citizens are coercible by law to pay taxes. (The law can force citizens to pay taxes.)

• "coercible into submission": forced to yield or obey.

  • The rebels were not coercible into submission, even after months of siege. (They could not be forced to surrender.)

Variants and Related Words

• Coercion (n): the practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

  • The confession was obtained through coercion. (It was obtained by force or threats.)

• Coercive (adj): relating to or using coercion; intended to force compliance.

  • The government used coercive measures to suppress dissent. (They used force to control opposition.)

• Coerce (v): to persuade someone to do something by using force or threats.

  • They tried to coerce him into signing the document. (They pressured him to sign.)

Synonyms

• Compellable: able to be forced or obliged to do something.
• Pressurable: capable of being influenced or forced by pressure.
• Malleable: easily influenced or shaped (often used metaphorically for people).

Related Idioms

• Under duress: under pressure or threat.

  • He signed the contract under duress, not of his own free will. (He signed because he was forced to.)

• By hook or by crook: by any means necessary, often involving coercion.

  • She was determined to get the job by hook or by crook. (She would use any means, including pressure or force.)