In 'The salesman tried to coerce the elderly woman into buying an expensive product she didn't need,' COERCE most nearly means:

COERCE means to persuade by force or threats; to compel against one's will. Context clues: 'tried to' (suggesting effort), 'elderly woman' (vulnerable), 'didn't need' (against her interest) — paints a picture of pressuring or forcing. From Latin 'coercere' (to surround, restrain, control). Synonyms: force, compel, pressure, intimidate, bully, constrain, browbeat. Antonyms: persuade gently, allow, free, encourage. Related: COERCION (noun — the practice of coercing); COERCIVE (adjective — using or characterized by coercion). Pressure/persuasion vocabulary on the ASVAB: COERCE (force), COMPEL (force, often by necessity), COMPULSORY (required), MANDATORY (required by rule or law), CONSTRAIN (restrict or limit), PERSUADE (convince through reasoning), INDUCE (lead to act), CONVINCE (cause to believe), CAJOLE (persuade through flattery), CONNIVE (secretly cooperate in wrongdoing). Distinguishing between voluntary persuasion and forcible coercion is important in legal, ethical, and military contexts.