forceful

adjective

force·​ful ˈfȯrs-fəl How to pronounce forceful (audio)
: possessing or filled with force : effective
a forceful argument
forcefulness noun

Examples of forceful in a Sentence

He has a very forceful personality. She's a confident and forceful leader. They have made a forceful argument in favor of changing the system. The government has threatened to use more forceful measures if necessary.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Dolphins’ margin for error, especially in life without Hill, will shrink, which means Miami’s defense has to become forceful. Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 The idea — supplying Ukraine with an interest-free loan of $164 billion to boost its military capabilities — would send a forceful message to Moscow, Merz wrote in the Financial Times. semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025 What’s not okay is the hypocrisy of backing forceful legislation that restricts what people, trans and otherwise, can do with their own bodies. Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2025 At a moment when many people’s thoughts and feelings about antisemitism are intense without necessarily being intelligible to others, and when accusations of antisemitism are tremendously forceful, Mazower’s book makes an immense contribution. Book Marks september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for forceful

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forceful was in 1571

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Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forceful. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

forceful

adjective
force·​ful ˈfōrs-fəl How to pronounce forceful (audio)
ˈfȯrs-
: having or done with much force : vigorous
a forceful speech
forcefully adverb
forcefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on forceful

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