be compelled to undergo

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be compelled to undergo" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations where someone is forced or required to experience or endure something, often against their will. Example: "Due to the circumstances, she may be compelled to undergo additional training to meet the job requirements."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even when a fetus's survival depends on a woman undergoing some intervention, she can no more be compelled to consent to it than anyone else could be compelled to undergo a medical intervention to save another person.

SEP

In no other circumstances do we take anyone to be compelled to undergo medical treatments even if he is the sole contender for saving a life (for example if he is the only known match for a bone marrow transfusion or organ donation); pregnant women ought not to be an exception.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Turkish names were assigned and the children were compelled to undergo the rites prescribed by Islamic law and tradition.

Independent

Her mother told her she would never be a girl, and she had been compelled to undergo Christian transgender "conversion" therapy.

The Guardian - Music

Enforcement of the khalwat law frequently results in detention of up to 24 hours in which men and women found together are often forced to marry and women are compelled to undergo invasive virginity tests, the report said.

The New York Times

Primarily due to financial and administrative incapacity, successive civilian governments was not able to pull along and in October 1969 Somalia witnessed a bloodless coup which brought Major General Siad Barre to power turning the country into a socialist state in which all able bodied citizens were compelled to undergo military training.

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

For Western audiences, who now take a dim view of even infant circumcision anywhere in the world (think: Intact America), the idea of being compelled to undergo this kind of practice in order to live in a region is difficult to comprehend.

Vice

If nobles or freemen were compelled to undergo the ordeal, the poison was typically administered to the accused only after dog and rooster stand-ins had already died from the poison's effects, while among members of the slave class (andevo), the ordeal required them to immediately ingest the poison themselves.

Wikipedia

While less than 1% of Uganda's population practices FGM/C, the practice is widespread in the east- and northeastern communities that do, notably the Pokot and Sabiny peoples, where 95% and 50% of the women respectively, are compelled to undergo FGM/C.

Unicef

A girl once stood and defined purgatory as "a state of terrible torment which those who enter are compelled to undergo for a time to fit them for heaven".

WikiHow

Will boys continue to be compelled to ignore that hunger?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be compelled to undergo", ensure the context clearly indicates the source of compulsion, whether it's legal, moral, or circumstantial. This clarifies why the subject has no choice.

Common error

Avoid using "be compelled to undergo" when the situation involves a strong recommendation or preference, rather than an actual, unavoidable requirement. Overstating the compulsion can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be compelled to undergo" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is the recipient of an action (undergoing something) due to an external force or obligation. Ludwig examples show its use in discussing medical interventions and religious rites.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be compelled to undergo" signifies a lack of choice and an obligation to experience something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct. While not exceedingly common, it is mainly found in science and news & media contexts. When using the phrase, clarity about the source of compulsion is crucial, and overstating the degree of compulsion should be avoided. Alternatives like "be forced to endure" or "be required to undertake" can be used depending on the desired nuance and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be forced to endure

Emphasizes the lack of choice and the potentially unpleasant nature of the experience.

have no choice but to undergo

Directly states the lack of alternatives, emphasizing the necessity.

be required to undertake

Highlights the obligatory aspect of the action, focusing on a formal requirement.

be left with no option but to undergo

Highlights the absence of alternatives, emphasizing the forced nature of the action.

be obligated to experience

Stresses a moral or legal duty to go through something.

be made to submit to

Conveys a sense of yielding to an external force or authority.

be subjected to

Implies exposure to something, often undesirable, without consent.

be constrained to face

Focuses on the restriction of freedom and the inevitability of confronting something.

be bound to experience

Suggests a predetermined or inevitable encounter with something.

be under the necessity of undergoing

Formal alternative, emphasizing the unavoidable nature of the action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "be compelled to undergo" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "be required to undertake" or "be under the necessity of undergoing", which emphasize obligation and inevitability.

Is there a difference between "be compelled to undergo" and "be forced to undergo"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of choice, "be compelled to undergo" often suggests a stronger, more formal or legalistic source of obligation, whereas "be forced to undergo" can imply a more direct or physical imposition.

When is it appropriate to use "be compelled to undergo" in writing?

Use "be compelled to undergo" when the subject is facing an unavoidable situation or procedure, whether due to legal requirements, ethical considerations, or extreme circumstances. It's suitable when emphasizing the lack of voluntary participation.

What are some less formal alternatives to "be compelled to undergo"?

In less formal contexts, you could use phrases like "have to undergo", "need to undergo", or "be made to undergo", which convey the same sense of obligation but with a more casual tone.