Duress is most often paired with the word under to refer to force or threats meant to make someone do something. For example, someone forced to sign a document signs it “under duress,” and a person held “under duress” is not free to leave but is being constrained, usually unlawfully. (Do not confuse being “under duress” with being “under stress,” which is a much more common occurrence.) Duress is ultimately from Latin durus, meaning "hard," source too of durable and endure.
He gave the information under duress. complied with the order only under duress
Recent Examples on the WebThe Ukrainian engineers who are working there are under duress, according to Ukrainian officials. Eric Nagourney, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 His lawyer said the confession was made under duress. Hazem Balousha, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 In 2019, a court ruled the Metropolitan Museum of Art could keep Picasso's The Actor, which was similarly sold under duress. Joel Mathis, The Week, 23 Aug. 2022 Most museums have long operated under the assumption that legal possession was enough justification for holding items that were stolen or acquired under duress. Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2022 That means that power to keep cooling systems functioning at the plant would come from diesel generators, raising the risks of an accident at a facility where workers have been operating under duress.New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022 Several performed well under duress, withstanding impacts and water dunks and keeping the food contained. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 Jones and Zappe were under duress often with the front seven getting in the quarterbacks’ faces and forcing quick decisions, scrambles, and throwaways. Jim Mcbride, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 But with trading volume across the sector down sharply, many of these exchanges are under duress, Mr. Butterfill said. Paul Vigna, WSJ, 29 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English duresse, from Anglo-French duresce hardness, severity, from Latin duritia, from durus — see during