force

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrs

Synonyms of force next

a(1)

: strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power

the forces of nature

the motivating force in her life

(2)

capitalized

—used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale

a Force 10 hurricane

: moral or mental strength

I was impressed by the force of his character.

: capacity to persuade or convince

the force of the argument

: military strength

b(1)

: a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose

a force of 20,000 soldiers

(2)

forces plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation)

: a body of persons or things available for a particular end

a labor force

the missile force

: an individual or group having the power of effective action

join forces to prevent violence

a force in politics

often capitalized : police force

—usually used with the

After his military service, he joined the force.

: violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing

Those who do not respond to kindness must yield to force.

: an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects

: any of the natural influences (such as electromagnetism (see electromagnetism sense 2a), gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe

: the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech

stated the objectives with force

baseball : force-out

forceless

ˈfȯrs-ləs

adjective

force

2 of 2

verb

forced; forcing

transitive verb

: to do violence to

especially : rape

: to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means

: to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity

forced to admit my error

the last minute goal forced overtime

: to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia

force your way through

: to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably

force unwanted attentions on a coworker

: to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: such as

: to win one's way into

force a castle

forced the mountain passes

: to break open or through

force a lock

: to raise or accelerate to the utmost

forcing the pace

: to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort

forced a smile

: to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease

: to hasten the rate of progress or growth of

: to bring (plants) to maturity out of the normal season

forcing lilies for Easter

: to induce (a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response

: to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out

: to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full

forcer noun

Phrases

in force

: in great numbers

picnickers were out in force

: valid, operative

the ban remains in force

force one's hand

: to cause one to act precipitously : force one to reveal one's purpose or intention

Choose the Right Synonym for force

Noun

power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort.

power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.

use weight training to build your strength

might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

Verb

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige 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

compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Examples of force in a Sentence

Noun The front of the car took the full force of the collision. instruments used to measure the force of the wind The police were accused of using excessive force when they made the arrest. We discourage the use of force. He used brute force to open the door. I was impressed by the force of her personality. Verb They forced us to work long hours without pay. The flooding forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes. After seeing the evidence, I was forced to admit my error. I am forced to conclude that more funding will be necessary. The pilot was forced to land when one of the plane's engines caught fire. The scandal forced his resignation. Lack of time may eventually force a compromise. They are trying to force a vote on this issue. The runner was forced out of bounds. Their car was forced off the road. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Whitney reported that a sergeant used force on a minor and filed a false use-of-force report saying that the child had made terrorist threats. —

Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023 According to the organization, mako sharks have one of the strongest bites in the world, with a bite force of 3,000 pounds. —

Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023 Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father and the Rebel Alliance forces are scattered across the cosmos. —

Variety, NBC News, 18 Sep. 2023 Enter Email Sign Up Casas’s performance after the All-Star break suggested a player with a chance to be a middle-of-the-order force for years to come. —

Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023 Such cooperation will strengthen mutual military interoperability to improve coordination between Taiwan’s forces and those of its partners in case of a contingency. —

Hou Yu-Ih, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2023 The government needed weapons to defend itself but faced a United Nations arms embargo imposed in 2013, after a rebel force toppled the government. —

Barbara Debout, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023 In parallel, Chinese Communist forces have increased the scale and pace of their military activities around Taiwan, the island democracy that Beijing intends to rule. —

Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 18 Sep. 2023 Having weathered the storm of moral panic, as well the death of arcades, the bumpy transition from the 2D to 3D eras, and multiple Hollywood adaptations of varying quality, Mortal Kombat has remained a constant force throughout its three-decade lifespan. —

Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2023

Verb

Some longtime tenants just abandon the apartments, forcing the maintenance crew to haul out their belongings and repair walls, floors and counters. —

Todd Wallack, ProPublica, 19 Sep. 2023 Red-hot Barrow had to have its matchup with Kodiak pushed back to Sunday because weather complications forced a delay in the Kodiak team’s flight. —

Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Sep. 2023 Losing Starlink, one Ukrainian soldier said, would force Ukraine to fall back on inferior alternatives such as radio. —

Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 Jones threw for 321 yards, rushed for 59 more and accounted for 3 TDs in one of the best games of his career, while the defense forced punts on three straight Cardinals possessions before kicking the game-winning field goal. —

C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 19 Sep. 2023 The motion would strip McCarthy of the speaker’s role and force a vote for his replacement. —

Tori Otten, The New Republic, 19 Sep. 2023 Contemporary articles from the L.A. Times, before the state forced the city to mitigate the pollution problem, reported bloody noses, watery eyes and irritated lungs in residents living downwind. —

Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023 The Jets’ defense did its part Sunday, too, stopping the Cowboys (2-0) several times in the red zone and forcing Dallas to settle for field goals on five drives. —

Ken Belson, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023 Many consumers reported difficulties in being able to keep up with costs and were forced to cut back on spending, RBA officials acknowledged in a February speech. —

Michelle Toh, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'force.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fortia, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of force was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing force

Cite this Entry

Style

“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/force. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

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Kids Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

ˈfō(ə)rs

ˈfȯ(ə)rs

: strength or energy put forth : active power

forces of nature

: capacity to persuade or convince

the force of this argument

: the state of existing and being enforced : effect

that law is still in force

: a group of persons trained and available for action

a police force

the nation's labor force

: violence or power used on a person or thing

open a door by force

: an influence (as a push or pull) that tends to produce a change in the speed or direction of motion of something

the force of gravity

forceless

-ləs

adjective

force

2 of 2 verb

forced; forcing

: to make (as a person) do something

forced them to work

: to get or make by using force

forced their way into the room

: to break open or through

force a lock

: to produce with effort

forced a weak smile

: to speed up the development of

force flowers

forcer noun

Medical Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

ˈfō(ə)rs, ˈfȯ(ə)rs

: an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects

forcé

2 of 2

see accouchement forcé

Legal Definition

force

1 of 2 noun

: a cause of motion, activity, or change

— intervening force

: a force that acts after another's negligent act or omission has occurred and that causes injury to another : intervening cause at cause

— irresistible force

: an unforeseeable event especially that prevents performance of an obligation under a contract : force majeure

: a body of persons available for a particular end

the labor force

specifically : police force

—usually used with the

: violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing

— constructive force

: the use of threats or intimidation for the purpose of gaining control over or preventing resistance from another

— deadly force

: force that is intended to cause or that carries a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury compare nondeadly force in this entry

Note: As a general rule, deadly force may be used without incurring criminal or tort liability when one reasonably believes that one's life or safety is in danger. In some cases, a person's unreasonable belief in the need for deadly force has been used to justify reducing a charge of murder to voluntary manslaughter. Additionally, a police officer is generally justified in using deadly force to prevent the escape of a suspect who threatens the officer or who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a violent crime.

— lawful force

: force that is considered justified under the law and does not create criminal or tort liability compare unlawful force in this entry

— moderate force \ ˈmä-də-rət- \

: nondeadly force in this entry

— nondeadly force

: force that is intended to cause minor bodily injury

also : a threat (as by the brandishing of a gun) to use deadly force

called also moderate force

compare deadly force in this entry

— reasonable force

: Lawful force that is reasonably necessary to accomplish a particular end (as preventing theft of one's property)

— unlawful force

: force that is not justified under the law and therefore is considered a tort or crime or both compare lawful force in this entry

force

2 of 2 transitive verb

forced; forcing

: to compel by physical means often against resistance

forced him into the car

: to break open or through

forced the door

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force

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of force in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near force

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

Legal Definition