1
: compelled by force or necessity : involuntary
a forced landing
2
: done or produced with effort, exertion, or pressure
a forced laugh
forcedly adverb

Examples of forced in a Sentence

forced payment of membership dues wasn't thrilled with the suggestion and so responded with a forced smile
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If an investigation finds that products are made with forced labor, the company is given time to address the problem before its products are banned from European markets. Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 10 June 2025 Absent a forced crisis, Chicago may follow the path of many other once-great cities, cutting services and raising taxes each year and slowly bleeding residents and jobs. Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025 Voluntary exits create space to reshape teams and redirect talent without triggering the disruption, legal risk and political blowback that often come with forced terminations. Rita Numerof, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 Surtain also had four picks and a forced fumble, and completely turned around an early-season game against Las Vegas with a 100-yard pick-six. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for forced

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of forced was circa 1537

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forced. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

forced

adjective
ˈfō(ə)rst How to pronounce forced (audio)
ˈfȯ(ə)rst
1
: caused or brought about by force or necessity : involuntary
made a forced landing
2
: done or produced with effort
a forced laugh

More from Merriam-Webster on forced

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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