People who force others to do something against their will through threats or violence.
From coerce (Latin coercere: co- 'together' + arcere 'to confine'), plus -er (one who does) and -s (plural). The meaning evolved from 'to confine or restrain' to 'to compel by force.'
The legal system distinguishes coercers from persuaders—one uses force, the other uses words. This distinction matters enormously in courts, which is why testimony about whether someone was 'forced' or merely 'convinced' can make or break a case.
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