1. threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment: "confessions extracted under duress"
▪ constraint illegally exercised to force someone to perform an act.
▪ forcible restraint or imprisonment.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘harshness, severity, cruel treatment’): via Old French from Latin duritia, from durus ‘hard’.
