force the issue
idiom
: to force someone to do something or to make a decision about something
They would never have addressed the problem if that newspaper article hadn't forced the issue.
Examples of force the issue in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If markets won’t rebalance rewards, lawsuits may force the issue.
—
Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The elder Sanders may not want to redshirt Lewis, but if Salter is steady enough to force the issue, that might be a good problem to have.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025
The blame falls squarely on Ortegas, who intentionally sped up enough to force the issue by allowing the Klingons to spot the Federation ship.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 July 2025
But how much will Seiler force the issue with the Dolphins?
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for force the issue
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Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The elder Sanders may not want to redshirt Lewis, but if Salter is steady enough to force the issue, that might be a good problem to have.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2025
The blame falls squarely on Ortegas, who intentionally sped up enough to force the issue by allowing the Klingons to spot the Federation ship.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 31 July 2025
But how much will Seiler force the issue with the Dolphins?
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for force the issue
Cite this Entry
“Force the issue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/force%20the%20issue. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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