\Co*erce"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Coerced}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Coercing}.] [L. co["e]rcere; co- + arcere to shut up, to
press together. See {Ark}.]
1. To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to
   repress; to curb. --Burke.
         Punishments are manifold, that they may coerce this
         profligate sort.                      --Ayliffe.
2. To compel or constrain to any action; as, to coerce a man
   to vote for a certain candidate.
3. To compel or enforce; as, to coerce obedience.
Syn: To {Coerce}, {Compel}.
Usage: To compel denotes to urge on by force which cannot be
       resisted. The term aplies equally to physical and
       moral force; as, compelled by hunger; compelled
       adverse circumstances; compelled by parental
       affection. Coerce had at first only the negative sense
       of checking or restraining by force; as, to coerce a
       bad man by punishments or a prisoner with fetters. It
       has now gained a positive sense., viz., that of
       driving a person into the performance of some act
       which is required of him by another; as, to coerce a
       man to sign a contract; to coerce obedience. In this
       sense (which is now the prevailing one), coerce
       differs but little from compel, and yet there is a
       distinction between them. Coercion is usually
       acomplished by indirect means, as threats and
       intimidation, physical force being more rarely
       employed in coercing.