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
Khanna described growing support for a discharge petition that would force the issue to the House floor.
—
Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 23 July 2025
Balance sheet stress, rising charge-offs, and liquidity needs will force the issue.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
And without Hutchinson’s pressure, Detroit had to force the issue.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
Even that likely will not be enough to force the issue this spring.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for force the issue
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.
Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 23 July 2025
Balance sheet stress, rising charge-offs, and liquidity needs will force the issue.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
And without Hutchinson’s pressure, Detroit had to force the issue.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
Even that likely will not be enough to force the issue this spring.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 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 1 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share