3 syllables: Co, er, cive. Stress on er.
koh-UR-siv
/koʊˈɝsɪv/
Coercive is pronounced koh-UR-siv (/koʊˈɝsɪv/). It has three syllables (Co-er-cive), with the stress on "er". Coercive is an adjective describing actions or measures intended to compel someone to act through force, threats, or intimidation. It denotes pressure that overrides free will, often used in legal, political, or ethical discussions to critique power dynamics. The term carries a negative connotation, emphasizing pressure rather than voluntary compliance.
adjectiveCoercive is an adjective describing actions or measures intended to compel someone to act through force, threats, or intimidation. It denotes pressure that overrides free will, often used in legal, political, or ethical discussions to critique power dynamics. The term carries a negative connotation, emphasizing pressure rather than voluntary compliance.
- You might merge syllables too quickly, producing ko‑ersiv with a weak second syllable. Slow the transition between /oʊ/ and /ɜːr/; keep the /r/ crisp in rhotic accents. - Over-tensing the final /v/ or voicing it too strongly can make it sound like /v/ rather than /ɪv/. Keep it light and short. - In non-rhotic speakers, avoid turning the second syllable into a dull /əs/; keep it /ɜːrsɪv/ with noticeable /r/ coloring. - To correct, practice with slow tempo, then increase pace while maintaining the ER vowel, then practice in sentences.
"The government imposed coercive policies that forced compliance from the population."
"Researchers warned about coercive techniques in interrogations and the risks to human rights."
"The company faced penalties after its coercive practices were revealed in the audit."
Coercive is pronounced /koʊˈɜːr.sɪv/ in US English, with the primary stress on the second syllable: ko-ER-siv. Start with an elongated 'ko' as in 'go', then an open mid-central vowel in the stressed syllable, followed by a short, light 'siv'. In UK English, it’s /kəˈɔː.sɪv/ or /kəˈɔːsɪv/, with a similar secondary stress pattern but a different vowel quality in the first syllable. In Australian English, you’ll hear /ˈkɜː.sɪv/ or /ˈkɜːˌsɪv/, often with a slightly more centralized first vowel. Practicing the rhythm ko-ER-siv and preserving the stress on ER is key. Audio reference: try hearing it in dictionaries like Cambridge or Oxford, and mimic the stressed syllable clearly. IPA: US /koʊˈɜːrsɪv/, UK /kəˈɔːsɪv/, AU /ˈkɜːˌsɪv/.
Common errors include under-emphasizing the stressed second syllable, saying /koˈɜr.siv/ with weak vowel quality, or merging syllables too quickly into /koˈɜrsɪv/. Some speakers also render the second syllable as a dull schwa without clear r-coloring in American accents. To fix: elongate the ER vowel in the stressed syllable, produce a crisp /r/ (US), and separate the syllables slightly to preserve ko-ER-siv. Practice with minimal pairs and listen to native models in Forvo or pronunciation sections of Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries.
In US English, the second syllable carries strong rhoticity: /koʊˈɜːrsɪv/ with an r-colored vowel. UK speakers often produce /kəˈɔː.sɪv/ or /kəˈɔːsɪv/, with a reduced initial vowel and non-rhotic r. Australian English tends toward /ˈkɜːsɪv/ or /ˈkɜːˌsɪv/, with a broad, fronted 'ɜː' and less vowel reduction than some UK varieties. The main differences are vowel quality in the first syllable, presence/absence of rhoticity, and the strength of the second-syllable vowel. Listen to native speakers and compare with IPA guides for precise mapping.
The difficulty centers on the stress shift and the mid-central, r-colored vowel in the stressed syllable (ER) in American English, which can blur into a vowel like /ɜː/ or /ə/ for non-rhotic speakers. The combination of /koʊ/ with a tall, tense /ɜːr/ can be tricky, as the /r/ is pronounced depending on the accent. Additionally, maintaining a clear short /s/ and a light final /v/ requires precise tongue positioning. Practice by isolating the ER portion, then integrating it into the full word with slow tempo.
This question probes whether you recognize that the stressed syllable in coercive carries a strong 'ER' vowel with r-coloring in rhotic accents. You’ll notice the difference between US /koʊˈɜːrsɪv/ and UK /kəˈɔː.sɪv/. The nuance is in how long you hold the ER vowel and how sharply you release into the final /sɪv/. A good cue is to imagine saying 'ko' and then quickly, crisply dip into the 'ER' sound with a trailing 'siv'.
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- US: emphasize the /ɜːr/; keep a strong rhotic /r/ and an American 'v' softly voiced. - UK: lean toward /əˈɔː.sɪv/ with a reduced first syllable; ensure non-rhotic r in most positions. - AU: /ˈkɜː.sɪv/ with less intense vowel length, smooth 'r' depending on speaker. - Use IPA references to tune your mouth: lip rounding on /oʊ/ varies, tongue position mid-back to central for /ɜːr/, and a light, unvoiced /s/ leading into /ɪv/. - Practice with minimal pairs to feel the difference between coercive and non-coercive.
Coercive comes from the Latin coercere, meaning to confine, restrain, or curb. Coercere is a composite of co-, meaning 'together' or 'with', and arcere, meaning 'to shut in' or 'to restrain'. The word entered English via the French coercer, with senses tied to compelling someone by force or threats. Over time, the sense broadened to include psychological or indirect pressure, not just physical force. The modern adjective coercive emerged in legal and political discourse to describe measures or tactics intended to compel action through intimidation or constraint. First known uses appear in early modern legal writings and political treatises discussing state power, punishment, and enforcement. In contemporary usage, coercive power is analyzed in ethics, international law, and human rights, often contrasted with persuasive, consensual forms of influence. The root arcere, from Latin, also gives rise to related terms like coercion (the act of coercing) and coercer (one who coerces). The evolution reflects a shift from physical restraint to broader social and psychological pressure as a means of control. Historically, the term has retained a negative valence, signaling illegitimate or excessive pressure rather than legitimate enforcement. The word’s first recorded attestations in English date to the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with a growing discourse about governance, law, and individual rights.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Coercive" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Coercive"
-ive sounds
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