to apply coercion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to apply coercion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing the act of forcing someone to act in a certain way or to comply with demands. Example: "The authorities were criticized for their decision to apply coercion in order to obtain confessions from the suspects."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For the participants, it seems to be ethically challenging to apply coercion, or their 'license to coerce', in good ways.

BMC Medical Ethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

(I was more focused on responding to Rick Hills and Jon Adler). Ilya's beef with the application of the anti-coercion argument (via the avoidance canon) in King is that he views it as nonsensical to apply anti-coercion in a way that expands federal power and limits state choice.

Harvard University

In two of the interviews (psychogeriatric unit and sub-acute unit), participants said that applying coercion may sometimes be necessary 'to come into position' to help a patient.

BMC Medical Ethics

"All human beings are controlled," he once told an interviewer, "but the ideal of behaviorism is to eliminate coercion, to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behavior that benefits everyone.

The New York Times

In that case, which involved a drugs conspiracy, the court made it clear that physical force or even the threat of force was not required for the defence of marital coercion to apply.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since the international realm is characterized by institutions that do not invoke the wills of those involved as a justification of coercion, justice simply fails to apply to that realm.

SEP

This applies especially to health care professionals who do not make the formal decision to use coercion, but at the same time are expected to execute coercive measures.

BMC Medical Ethics

I didn't have to use coercion.

The Guardian

They have to use coercion and force.

The Guardian - Opinion

One interrogator said that he would apply physical coercion only if he received a personal directive from the President.

The New Yorker

It's never hard to justify applying a little more physical coercion once you've decided that physical coercion is fine to begin with.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the ethical weight of the word; it is rarely a neutral term and usually implies a loss of autonomy for the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "to apply coercion" when you actually mean that someone was convinced through logical argument. Coercion requires a threat or the use of power that removes the other person's ability to choose freely.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, the phrase "to apply coercion" acts as an infinitive verb phrase. It functions as the subject or object of a sentence to define the active implementation of coercive tactics. In academic writing, it is often used following impersonal constructions like "it is difficult to..." or "the decision to..."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

45%

Academia

30%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to apply coercion" is a highly formal and precise expression used to describe the act of forcing a party to behave in an involuntary manner. Analysis by Ludwig shows that while exact occurrences of the infinitive form are relatively rare in general speech, the concept is ubiquitous in high-level academic and legal discourse. It is most frequently found in discussions regarding the ethics of institutional power, such as in psychiatric care or international relations. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, noting that it is an essential term for writers who need to distinguish between mere influence and the actual override of personal will through force or threats. When using this phrase, ensure that the context justifies such a strong term, as it carries significant moral and legal weight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to resort to coercion

Suggests that coercive methods are being used as a later or final option when other methods fail

to use force

More direct and often implies physical strength or violence rather than psychological or systemic pressure

to use coercive measures

Describes the specific tools or actions used to achieve coercion, often found in medical or clinical reports

to exert pressure

Common in business and diplomacy, suggesting a less aggressive but persistent attempt to influence

to employ duress

A more formal and legalistic term specifically referring to constraints or threats

to exercise compulsion

Focuses on the state of being forced to do something, often used in academic or psychological contexts

to compel action

A neutral but firm way to describe forcing a person or entity to do something

to enforce compliance

Focuses on the desired outcome—getting someone to obey—rather than just the act of pressure itself

to utilize intimidation

Specifically refers to using fear as the primary mechanism of control

to apply leverage

A strategic term common in negotiations that implies using an advantage to gain a result

FAQs

How do I use "to apply coercion" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the act of forcing someone, for example: "The regime was accused of trying "to apply coercion" against political dissidents."

What can I say instead of "to apply coercion"?

Depending on your context, you can use more common alternatives like "<a href="/s/to+use+force" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to use force", "<a href="/s/to+exert+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to exert pressure" or "<a href="/s/to+compel+action" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to compel action".

Is "to apply coercion" formal English?

Yes, it is considered formal. It is frequently used in scientific journals, legal documents and high-level journalism such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

What is the difference between "to apply coercion" and "to apply pressure"?

While "<a href="/s/to+apply+pressure" target="_blank" rel="alternative">to apply pressure" can be metaphorical and relatively mild (like a sales tactic), "to apply coercion" almost always involves a threat or a forceful override of someone's will.