2 syllables: Co, erced. Stress on erced.
koh-URST
/koʊˈɝst/
Coerced is pronounced koh-URST (/koʊˈɝst/). It has two syllables (Co-erced), with the stress on "erced". Coerced is the verb form meaning to compel or pressure someone to do something, often through threats or intimidation. It implies exerting force or authority to bend another’s will, typically in a way that undermines free consent. In formal contexts, you may encounter phrases like coerced confession or coerced agreement. (2-4 sentences, ~65 words).
nounCoerced is the verb form meaning to compel or pressure someone to do something, often through threats or intimidation. It implies exerting force or authority to bend another’s will, typically in a way that undermines free consent. In formal contexts, you may encounter phrases like coerced confession or coerced agreement. (2-4 sentences, ~65 words)
- You may overemphasize the first syllable, saying KO-erst instead of ko-ERST. Focus on placing primary stress on the second syllable. - Mispronouncing the /ɜː/ (UK) as a pure /ɜː/ or converting it to /ɪ/; keep the mid-central quality for accuracy. - Final /st/ is tricky if you add a schwa before; keep the sequence tight: /ˈɜrst/ or /ˈɜːst/ with no extra vowel. - In fast speech, you may drop the /t/ or merge with /d/ in casual speech; stay crisp with /st/ to avoid voicing mistakes.
How to Pronounce Coerced
"The suspect claimed he was coerced into confessing by the investigators."
"Employees argued they were coerced into signing the contract under pressure."
"The confession was later dismissed because it appeared coerced rather than voluntary."
You say ko-ERST (US) or kə-ˈɜːst (UK). The primary stress is on the second syllable: co-ERCED. The initial vowel shifts from a long o to a mid-central vowel in British and some US accents. IPA: US: koʊˈɜrst, UK: kəˈɜːst. Mouth position: start with a closed back vowel for the 'co' then raise the tongue to a mid-central /ɜː/ vowel for the stressed syllable, finishing with /st/. Audio references: check Pronounce or YouGlish with example sentences.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /koʊ-ɪrzd/ with an incorrect final consonant or misplacing stress as /ˈkoʊrst/. The stressed syllable should be on the second: /koʊˈɜrst/ (US) or /kəˈɜːst/ (UK). People also shorten the /ɜr/ to a dull /ɜːr/ or mispronounce the /ɔː/ sound as /ɒ/. Correction: practice the /ɜː/ vowel in the stressed syllable and ensure the final cluster is /st/, not /zd/. Practice minimal pairs like force/forceful to tune the /ɜː/ quality.
US tends to use /koʊˈɜrst/ with a rhotacized closing in the /ɜr/ sequence. UK typically /kəˈɜːst/ with a shorter initial /ɪə/ quality avoided and a lengthened /ɜː/ in non-rhotic speech; AU follows similar patterns to UK but with a more centralized /ɜː/ and sometimes a slightly shorter first syllable. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel length: US final /ɜ/ can be more rounded, UK/AU lean toward a tenser /ɜː/.
The difficulty comes from the /ɜr/ vowel sequence in the stressed syllable and the /st/ ending after a stressed mid-central vowel. Non-native speakers often misplace the tongue for /ɜː/ or substitute with /ɪ/ or /ɜː/; the /r/ in non-rhotic accents often isn’t pronounced the same, changing the perceived vowel length. Focus on keeping the /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ real and moving straight into /st/ without an extra vowel.
Because of the vowel-consonant transition from /ɜr/ to /st/, you might wonder if the r influences the following consonant. In rhotic accents, the /ɜr/ is pronounced with a trailing r that blends into /st/. In non-rhotic accents, the r is not pronounced, but the preceding /ɜː/ remains as a long vowel before the /st/. Practice with the sequence /ɜr/ or /ɜː/ and then /st/, listening for a smooth glide into the final /st/.
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- US: stress on the second syllable with /koʊˈɜrst/. Durations: /koʊ/ gives a quick initial bite before the long /ˈɜrst/. - UK: /kəˈɜːst/ emphasizes a longer /ɜː/; reduce the /o/ to a schwa and keep the /st/ crisp. - AU: tends toward /kəˈɜːst/ similar to UK but with slightly more centralized vowels; ensure non-rhoticity affects the /r/ only subtly. - General: keep the jaw lowered for /ɜː/ and let the tongue relax in the mid-central region; the /st/ should be a clean stop.
Coerced derives from the Latin verb coercere, composed of co- (together, with) and arcere (to confine, keep in). The form entered Middle English via Old French coercer, adopting the sense of restraining or repressing. The modern sense centers on compelling someone to act under threat or constraint. The evolution traces a shift from neutral forms of restraint to coercive pressure, often tied to legal and moral contexts. First recorded uses align with legal and political language in medieval and early modern periods, expanding through the 19th and 20th centuries as cases of unjust compulsion became more widely discussed in jurisprudence and social discourse. Across dialects, the core idea remains: forcing someone to act against their will under duress, rather than voluntary compliance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Coerced" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Coerced"
-ced sounds
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