force 1 of 2

1
2
as in to violate
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent was accused of forcing a woman

Synonyms & Similar Words

force

2 of 2

noun

1
as in manpower
a body of persons at work or available for work the entire force of the shipyard will be needed to get this government order done on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

6
7
8
as in supply
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time the great debate during the Cold War was whether the nation's missile force was adequate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word force different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of force are coerce, compel, constrain, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

In what contexts can coerce take the place of force?

The meanings of coerce and force largely overlap; however, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

When would compel be a good substitute for force?

While in some cases nearly identical to force, compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

When is it sensible to use constrain instead of force?

While the synonyms constrain and force are close in meaning, constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

When could oblige be used to replace force?

The words oblige and force are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of force
Verb
This upper-chest pattern bypasses your diaphragm, forcing muscles in your neck and shoulders to take over the work of pulling in each breath. Dana Santas, CNN Money, 4 July 2025 Months' worth of rainfall fell within just a few hours, overwhelming riverfront communities and forcing emergency teams to evacuate children's summer camps threatened by rising water. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Noun
Pair this with their loaded offense and some other trade deadline acquisitions, and the Mets could be a force in the postseason. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom, and love. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
Verb
  • However, the Supreme Court ruled that lawsuits to compel states to enforce Medicaid law—a federal statute—aren’t valid.
    Essence, Essence, 27 June 2025
  • Female clients of mine have also reported feeling compelled to embrace more traditionally feminine roles.
    Jerry Colonna, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Earlier in the week, perhaps the most notable setback was a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian that a cap on health care provider taxes, which is projected to save billions of dollars in federal Medicaid spending, violated the Senate’s Byrd Rule.
    Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 29 June 2025
  • The Senate parliamentarian had ruled that these provisions governing current student loan borrowers violated senate reconciliation rules.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • One 2024 meta-analysis, for example, found that all manner of sensory experiences—including sounds, smells, flashing lights, physical pressure, and pain—can be incorporated into dreams when people are sleeping and investigators provide the stimulus.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 July 2025
  • Atlanta has clearly brought in personnel designed to push the pace on offense and applies intense perimeter pressure on defense.
    Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • There's more than enough power in the iPhone Pro and Pro Max models to allow macOS to run smoothly on the hardware.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
  • Big Brother went from America voting out the houseguests to the housemates voting out their own with weekly competitions to have ultimate power as Head of Household.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • Ironically, the impact will hit especially hard in Republican areas–a fact that Forbes (and others) thought last November might protect the industry from such savage cuts.
    Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • This could be a $6 million per season deal that doesn't pan out to being an impact addition.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • His spouse is perilously close to beginning an affair with the best man at their wedding, now one of his authors, a war poet disillusioned by violence and fanaticism.
    Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in 4 women and one in 7 men have experienced severe intimate partner violence.
    Liz Roberts, New York Daily News, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The crash was reported shortly after 6:30 a.m. on June 28 at the intersection of West Taylor and Spring streets, San Jose police Officer Tanya Hernandez said in a news release.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 8 July 2025
  • His platform also includes implementing a Department of Community Safety with outreach workers in subway stations, contrasting with Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul's police partnership.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • This will include school supplies and household essentials from Amazon Basics (starting at $3) and summer fashion from Amazon Essentials (starting at $12).
    Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 6 July 2025
  • Energy operators had to cut off electricity to customers — because supply couldn’t meet the growing energy demand — for 21 hours as a measure to prevent larger-scale blackouts.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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