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.
Making music on my own, the harmonica holder and the harmonica was a way of accompanying myself that didn’t feel forced. Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025 The humor feels more forced, like the characters (and especially Oliver) are no longer actual characters, but just walking jokes. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 The other dozen arrived thanks to Anisimova’s six unforced errors and six forced errors. Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025 The Biden administration particularly focused on how the exemption allowed goods made with forced labor to make it into the country in violation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Gabrielle Fonrouge,melissa Repko,annie Palmer, CNBC, 29 Aug. 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 18 Sep. 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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