Entry Word: force

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a body of persons at work or available for work <the nationʼs labor force>

Synonyms help, manpower, personnel, pool, staff

Related Words labor, proletariat, rank and file; band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, team; employee, helper, hireling, worker

2 the use of power to impose oneʼs will on another <a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force>

Synonyms coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure

Related Words browbeating, bulldozing, bullying; fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence; might, muscle, strength; hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness; strain, stress

Near Antonyms agreement, approval, consent, permission; persuasion, reason

3 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task <got through the college board exams by sheer force of will> — see power 2
4 the capacity to persuade <surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?> — see cogency 1
5 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect <felt the full force of her denunciation of war as a moral option> — see ¹punch 1
6 the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property <threatened to resort to force if he wouldn't listen to reason> — see violence