duress

1. obsoleteuncountableHarsh treatment.

   […]the agreements[…]made with their landlords, during the time of ſlavery, are only the effect of dureſſe and force;[…].

   1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 323

2. uncountableConstraint by threat.

   It is unclear when it was filmed and if she was under duress during filming.

   2023 October 17, Kim Willsher, “Mother of French-Israeli hostage begs for her return as Hamas releases video”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

3. uncountablelawRestraint in which a person is influenced, whether by lawful or unlawful forceful compulsion of their liberty by monition or implementation of physical enforcement; legally for the incurring of civil liability, of a citizen's arrest, or of subrogation, or illegally for the committing of an offense, of forcing a contract, or of using threats.

present singular third person duresses · participle present duressing · participle past duressed · past duressed

1. To put under duress; to pressure.

   Someone was duressing her.

   1 more example

   The small nation was duressed into giving up territory.