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
Peat fit in well with Arizona’s veteran lineup, as the freshman didn’t force the issue and played within the offense.
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Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2026
The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
That could set up a new set of battles in the weeks ahead for a measure that has already roiled Republicans for months, exposing fractures between Trump and some of his closest allies while prompting unusual bipartisan alliances to force the issue.
—Nik Popli, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
With the Assembly bill buried by Vos, Democratic Rep. Robyn Vining tried in July to force the issue with a bit of a legislative end run.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2025
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Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2026
The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
That could set up a new set of battles in the weeks ahead for a measure that has already roiled Republicans for months, exposing fractures between Trump and some of his closest allies while prompting unusual bipartisan alliances to force the issue.
—Nik Popli, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
With the Assembly bill buried by Vos, Democratic Rep. Robyn Vining tried in July to force the issue with a bit of a legislative end run.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 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 2 Feb. 2026.
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