forced

adjective

ˈfȯrst 

1

: compelled by force or necessity : involuntary

a forced landing

2

: done or produced with effort, exertion, or pressure

a forced laugh

forcedly

ˈfȯr-səd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• compulsory
• imperative
• incumbent
• involuntary
• mandatory
• necessary
• nonelective
• obligatory
• peremptory
• required

Examples of forced in a Sentence

forced payment of membership dues

wasn't thrilled with the suggestion and so responded with a forced smile

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year the state comptroller ordered a forced audit of Dolton finances, ultimately assigning an outside firm to conduct audits after Dolton was unable to find an auditor willing to take on the job. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

Despite a brief uptick in global prices in late March, Russian energy revenues fell 17% year-over-year in March to $12.8 billion, hit by forced discounts, stronger ruble performance, and sanctions. —Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

China rejects any forced sale of the company, and might get final say in the deal due to its tech export laws. —Ece Yildirim, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2025

Hand notched a career-high 31 tackles last year, five for loss, with a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass batdown. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing forced

• forced labor
• forced perspective

Rhymes for forced

• divorced
• endorsed
• enforced
• indorsed
• outsourced
• unforced
• coursed
• gorst
• horsed
• horst
• sourced
• reenforced

Kids Definition

forced

adjective

ˈfō(ə)rst 

ˈfȯ(ə)rst

1

: caused or brought about by force or necessity : involuntary

made a forced landing

2

: done or produced with effort

a forced laugh