der Zwang
Translation
compulsion, coercion, force, constraint
Examples
Er handelte ohne Zwang.
He acted without coercion.
Sie spürte den Zwang, perfekt zu sein.
She felt the compulsion to be perfect.
Er übte Zwang auf sie aus.
He exerted pressure on her.
Grammar Patterns
((under duress/coercion)) unter Zwang He acted under duress.
the compulsion ((to do sth.)) der Zwang ((zu+3)) She felt the compulsion to be perfect.
to exert pressure ((on sb.)) Zwang ((auf j-n)) ((ausüben)) He exerted pressure on her.
Similar Words
Synonyms: der Druck (pressure), die Nötigung (coercion); Antonyms: die Freiheit (freedom), die Wahl (choice)
Etymology
Derived from the verb 'zwingen' (to force). Related to Old High German 'dwang'.
Memory Tips
Sounds a bit like 'twang' - the sound of a tight string under tension or constraint.