forcible entry
idiom
chiefly US
: entering a building or room by using force to open a door or window
The door showed signs of forcible entry.
Examples of forcible entry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The front door of the house was open, though there was no sign of forcible entry.
—
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Indiana law states that a person who forcibly enters a vehicle to remove a domestic animal is responsible for half of the cost of repairing the vehicle damage directly caused by the person's forcible entry if certain criteria aren't met.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 18 June 2024
Troopers made forcible entry into the room and found her alone.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
Based in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne specializes in forcible entry operations, rapidly parachuting into areas to clear the way for further military operations.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 July 2023
In a news release, ALEA said that the individual was seen trying to make forcible entry into a marked Rainbow City patrol vehicle near the school.
—Jamiel Lynch, Tina Burnside and Jarrod Wardwell, CNN, 9 June 2022
The basic unit costs $898,000, and add-ons, including a thermal imaging camera, extinguishers, forcible entry equipment and two specialized rescue packages, bring the total to $1,007,927.
—Beth Mlady, cleveland, 4 July 2020
In the first minutes of their response, an officer also said a Halligan, a firefighting tool that is used for forcible entry, was on scene, according to the Tribune.
—Travis Caldwell and Rosa Flores, CNN, 21 June 2022
Last year’s forcible entry and warrant amendments legislation stalled primarily because of a provision stating that no-knock warrants were only to be allowed in circumstances when there was an imminent threat to a person inside or outside of a building.
—Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Feb. 2022
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.
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Feb. 2025
Indiana law states that a person who forcibly enters a vehicle to remove a domestic animal is responsible for half of the cost of repairing the vehicle damage directly caused by the person's forcible entry if certain criteria aren't met.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 18 June 2024
Troopers made forcible entry into the room and found her alone.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
Based in Fort Liberty, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne specializes in forcible entry operations, rapidly parachuting into areas to clear the way for further military operations.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 July 2023
In a news release, ALEA said that the individual was seen trying to make forcible entry into a marked Rainbow City patrol vehicle near the school.
—Jamiel Lynch, Tina Burnside and Jarrod Wardwell, CNN, 9 June 2022
The basic unit costs $898,000, and add-ons, including a thermal imaging camera, extinguishers, forcible entry equipment and two specialized rescue packages, bring the total to $1,007,927.
—Beth Mlady, cleveland, 4 July 2020
In the first minutes of their response, an officer also said a Halligan, a firefighting tool that is used for forcible entry, was on scene, according to the Tribune.
—Travis Caldwell and Rosa Flores, CNN, 21 June 2022
Last year’s forcible entry and warrant amendments legislation stalled primarily because of a provision stating that no-knock warrants were only to be allowed in circumstances when there was an imminent threat to a person inside or outside of a building.
—Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Feb. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Forcible entry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forcible%20entry. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share