coercive

From coerce + -ive.

• IPA^(key): /kəʊˈɜː(ɹ)sɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

coercive (comparative more coercive, superlative most coercive)

1. Displaying a tendency or intent to coerce.
   • 2006 July 19, Post Staff Writers, “U.S. Is Studying Military Strike Options on Iran”, in Washington Post, Washington, page A01:

     The Bush administration is studying options for military strikes against Iran as part of a broader strategy of coercive diplomacy to pressure Tehran to abandon its alleged nuclear development program, according to U.S. officials and independent analysts.

2. (mathematics, of a function F) Such that the ratio of |F(x)| to x approaches infinity as x approaches infinity.

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.ɛʁ.siv/
• Homophone: coercives

coercive

1. feminine singular of coercif