pressuring

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'pressuring' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate when someone is trying to persuade or coerce someone else into doing something. For example: "My boss has been pressuring me to stay late to finish the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But when she was on, she was just serving amazing and going for the returns, pressuring me right away.

The Guardian - Sport

France has been pressuring the Palestinians to amend the resolution to make it clear that Israel could not be taken to the ICC retroactively for any alleged war crimes committed before the UN votes to recognise Palestinian statehood.

The Guardian

If I can't afford it, no one's pressuring me to cough up, either.

The Guardian - Music

Steve Swerdlow, a central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said Karimov's "sham re-election" would condemn Uzbekistan's citizens to life under virtual totalitarian rule unless the US and European Union began pressuring him to make reforms.

The Guardian

It must stop pressuring publishers who seek to inform the world about threats to democracy, while it goes relatively easy on publishers who spy on the families of murdered girls.

The Guardian - Tech

"I think it is hugely embarrassing for Australia that you've got our allies pressuring the government to be dragged kicking and screaming to tackle this killer disease in west Africa," he said.

The Guardian

These battles relate to, among others: contestations around what it means to be "authentically" African; citizens' pressuring for democracy, inclusion and leadership accountability; basic needs being met in a context of global inequality wherein rich elites govern over the poor; and women increasingly asserting their sexual rights.

The Guardian

Worse, the government strategy of pressuring Boko Haram through arresting family members has backfired.

The Guardian

The evidence against him included an attempt to coerce Bosch into leaving the country and pressuring him to sign an a sworn statement "attesting that Bosch never supplied Rodri­guez with PES [performance-enhancing substances] and had no personal knowledge that Rodriguez had ever used them, state­ments that Rodriguez also knew to be false".

The Guardian - Sport

As the closely fought battle for the Kent constituency moved into its final hours, supporters aligning themselves to the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, were accused of pressuring people as they approached polling stations, and swearing at those who said they would not vote for the party.

The Guardian

Hence, there are also no real mechanisms in place for pressuring a country to reverse political course or, at the limit, leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pressuring" to clearly convey the act of trying to influence someone, whether subtly or forcefully.

Common error

While "pressuring" is widely understood, overuse in formal writing may sound overly aggressive. Consider alternatives like "encouraging" or "urging" for a more nuanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pressuring" is as the present participle or gerund form of the verb "pressure". It's used to describe an ongoing action of applying force or influence, as demonstrated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

17%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

12%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term “pressuring” is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb form that describes the act of trying to influence or coerce someone into doing something. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, it's important to consider the potential for sounding overly aggressive in highly formal writing, opting for alternatives like "encouraging" or "urging" when a more nuanced tone is desired. Remember to use "pressuring" to convey a clear sense of attempted influence, whether subtle or forceful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exerting pressure

Focuses on the act of applying influence, but it is more formal.

coercing

Highlights the element of forcing someone against their will.

bringing pressure to bear

Highlights the active application of pressure on a specific target.

applying duress

Emphasizes the severity of the pressure and potential coercion.

strong-arming

Indicates the use of force or threats to achieve compliance.

influencing strongly

Indicates a significant level of impact, but it is less forceful.

pushing hard

Suggests a determined effort to persuade or convince.

leaning on

Implies reliance and expectation of compliance.

twisting someone's arm

Figuratively suggests persuasion through pressure, often lighthearted.

bulldozing

Suggests an aggressive and forceful approach.

FAQs

How can I use "pressuring" in a sentence?

You can use "pressuring" to describe someone trying to influence another person's actions, such as, "The company is "pressuring" its employees to work longer hours."

What are some alternatives to "pressuring"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "influencing", "urging", or "encouraging". The best choice depends on the level of force implied.

Is "pressuring" a formal or informal word?

"Pressuring" is generally considered neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, more nuanced alternatives may be preferred.

What's the difference between "pressuring" and "persuading"?

"Pressuring" often implies a stronger, potentially coercive influence, while "persuading" suggests convincing someone through reasoning or argument.