Which term refers to pressure or threats that compel someone to act?

The term that refers to pressure or threats compelling someone to act is duress. In legal contexts, duress involves coercion in which a party is forced to agree to a contract or take an action against their will due to threats of harm or other forms of pressure. It is important because contracts entered into under duress can be deemed voidable, meaning the party under coercion has the right to rescind the agreement.

On the other hand, mutual mistake refers to a situation where both parties to a contract have a false belief about a crucial fact, which can lead to the contract being voidable. Fraud involves intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, affecting the validity of consent but not necessarily involving pressure or threats. Undue influence occurs when one party exerts excessive pressure on another to the extent that it overcomes the weaker party's free will, but it does not strictly involve threats or direct pressure in the traditional sense associated with duress. Therefore, duress is specifically concerned with the coercive pressure that directly compels action.