Plural of duress; situations where someone is forced to do something against their will through threats or coercion.
From Old French duresse, from Latin duritia meaning hardness or severity. The word evolved to mean the hardship of being forced or constrained, especially in legal contexts.
In law, duress is a powerful defense—if you can prove someone forced you to commit a crime under threat, you might escape punishment. It's why the legal system recognizes that humans have limits to their willpower when facing serious threats.
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