Definition of "duress"

duress

/djʊˈɹɛs/

noun
uncountable
1. (obsolete) Harsh treatment.
  Quotations
  The agreements […] made with the landlords during the time of slavery, are only the effect of duress and force.
  1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […]
2. Constraint by threat.
  Quotations
  It is unclear when it was filmed and if she was under duress during filming.
  2023 October 17, Kim Willsher, “Mother of French-Israeli hostage begs for her return as Hamas releases video”, in The Guardian‎
3. (law) Restraint in which a person is influenced, whether by lawful or unlawful forceful compulsion of their liberty by monition or implementation of physical enforcement; legally for the incurring of civil liability, of a citizen's arrest, or of subrogation, or illegally for the committing of an offense, of forcing a contract, or of using threats.
verb
third-person singular simple present duresses, present participle duressing, simple past and past participle duressed
1. To put under duress; to pressure.