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Formation: N (usually an action noun such as 中止, 撤退, 変更, 避難) + を余儀なくされる

Says that circumstances beyond the subject's control, such as a disaster, illness or economic pressure, have forced them into an action they did not want. It is formal and written, and appears constantly in news reports and business writing. The pattern takes a noun, not a verb, and the subject is the person or organisation that suffers the outcome; it is usually in the past (を余儀なくされた) or progressive (を余儀なくされている). Compare 〜ざるを得ない, which attaches to verbs and sounds more like the speaker's own reluctant decision, and 〜しかない or 〜よりほかない, which are more everyday. 〜を余儀なくさせる is the same idea seen from the cause's side, and is much less common.

Variants: を余儀なくされた、を余儀なくされている

Examples

• 台風の接近により、大会は中止を余儀なくされた。
  With the typhoon approaching, the tournament had to be called off.
• 業績の悪化で、同社は海外市場からの撤退を余儀なくされた。
  Because of falling profits, the company was forced to pull out of overseas markets.
• 被災した住民たちは、長期の避難生活を余儀なくされている。
  Residents hit by the disaster have had no choice but to live as evacuees for a long time.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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