What term describes the act of frightening or threatening someone to make them do something?

The term that best describes the act of frightening or threatening someone to make them do something is intimidation. Intimidation involves the use of fear, threats, or an oppressive atmosphere to influence an individual's behavior or decision-making. It creates a scenario where the person feels anxious or fearful, leading them to comply with the demands of the intimidator.

While coercion also involves pressing someone to act, it typically includes elements of force or the threat of adverse consequences to achieve compliance. Manipulation entails deceptive tactics to influence someone’s choices, while bullying is a more persistent pattern of aggressive behavior designed to exert power over a victim. In this context, intimidation specifically focuses on the act of instilling fear to achieve a desired response, making it the most appropriate choice.