From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishduressdu‧ress /djʊˈres $ dʊ-/ noun [uncountable] SCLTHREATENillegal or unfair threatsunder duress The confession was obtained under duress.
Examples from the Corpus
duress• But memory is highly selective, particularly within an organization that has weathered numerous crises and moments of extreme duress.• As far as I am concerned, it is the only body that represents the prison officers, who work under great duress.• There was no improper pressure by the revenue and in particular there was no duress.• Under pain or duress, we do whatever we can to cope with the discomfort and justify its causes.• But that meant admitting guilt, admitting that I had acted unwillingly and not under duress and that I refused to do.• When a crisis or dilemma arises, such an organization will resort under duress to its customary self-defeating practices.• The Clippers were under duress from the start, falling behind the Rockets 27-12 at the start.• Under duress it may flee and hide, but it can only do this occasionally.under duress• In her defence, the accused said that she had been acting under duress when she took the money.• The defendants claimed that their confessions were made under duress.• The confession had been obtained under duress, and therefore could not be allowed as evidence.• Williams said he agreed to the new settlement under duress.• Judge Mershon ruled that the agreement was signed under duress, and was therefore null and void.From Longman Business Dictionaryduressdu‧ress /djʊˈresdʊ-/ noun [uncountable]LAW the illegal or unfair use of force or threats to make someone do somethingHe claimed that he had signed the contract under duress.Origin duress (1300-1400) Old French duresce, from Latin durus “hard” 