threats or force that are used to make somebody do something 胁迫;强迫 He signed the confession under duress. 他被迫在供状上签了字。 The promise was obtained by duress on the part of her husband. 这个承诺是她丈夫通过胁迫获得的。 They were operating at times under extreme duress. 他们有时在极度的压力下工作。
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘harshness, severity, cruel treatment’): via Old French from Latin duritia, from durus ‘hard’.