duress doo-RES noun WS #14

pressure or constraint exerted upon someone to coerce them to act against their will; threats, violence, or other forms of coercion

1. She signed the contract under duress after being threatened with termination.
2. The hostages were forced to make statements under extreme duress.
3. The witness testified that she had been under duress when she initially refused to cooperate.
4. His lawyer argued that the defendant acted under duress when he committed the crime.
5. The confession was obtained under duress and was therefore inadmissible in court.