Synonyms of force

force 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to compel

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

the public outcry from the scandal forced the mayor to resign

road construction forced them to take an alternate route

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compel
• coerce
• obligate
• oblige
• drive
• pressure
• constrain
• muscle
• impel
• intimidate
• blackmail
• press
• make
• impress
• dragoon
• bully
• sandbag
• blackjack
• threaten
• twist one's arm
• browbeat
• menace
• drag
• terrorize
• bulldoze
• cow
• high-pressure
• harass
• shame
• hector
• badger
• hound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• move
• induce
• convince
• satisfy
• talk (into)
• argue
• win (over)
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

2

as in to violate

to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent

was accused of forcing a woman

Synonyms & Similar Words

• violate
• assault
• rape
• ravish

force

2 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrs 

1

as in manpower

a body of persons at work or available for work

the entire force of the shipyard will be needed to get this government order done on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• manpower
• workforce
• staff
• personnel
• pool
• labor force
• help
• crew
• worker
• employee
• team
• support
• squad
• labor
• company
• band
• proletariat
• helper
• gang
• party
• blood
• rank and file
• outfit
• hireling

2

as in pressure

the use of power to impose one's will on another

a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pressure
• compulsion
• constraint
• intimidation
• coercion
• violence
• threat
• duress
• arm-twisting
• fear
• stress
• strength
• menace
• sword
• terrorism
• bullying
• terror
• squeeze
• muscle
• potency
• bulldozing
• might
• browbeating
• squeeze play
• willfulness
• puissance
• self-will
• strain
• hardheadedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreement
• consent
• approval
• permission
• reason
• persuasion
• convincing
• suasion

3

as in power

the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task

got through the college board exams by sheer force of will

Synonyms & Similar Words

• power
• strength
• energy
• muscle
• capability
• vigor
• firepower
• capacity
• horsepower
• potency
• might
• competence
• potence
• sinew
• puissance
• competency
• aptitude
• effectiveness
• usefulness
• adequacy
• effectualness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• inability
• disability
• impotence
• powerlessness
• incapacity
• impotency
• incompetence
• incapability
• incompetency
• inaptitude
• ineffectiveness
• paralysis
• inefficacy
• uselessness
• ineffectuality
• helplessness
• incapableness
• ineffectualness
• inefficaciousness

4

as in effectiveness

the capacity to persuade

surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• effectiveness
• authority
• strength
• conclusiveness
• validity
• forcefulness
• persuasion
• power
• persuasiveness
• credibility
• cogency
• impact
• influence
• soundness
• convincingness
• suasiveness
• appeal
• might
• weight
• punch
• sway
• believability
• seductiveness
• definitiveness
• authoritativeness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ineffectiveness
• invalidity
• inconclusiveness
• ineffectuality
• unsoundness
• weakness
• ineffectualness
• powerlessness
• feebleness
• shakiness

5

as in impact

the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect

expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impact
• effectiveness
• punch
• significance
• importance
• point
• forcefulness
• appeal
• cogency
• attraction
• payoff
• charm
• fascination

6

as in violence

the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property

the officer threatened to resort to force if the suspect did not surrender

Synonyms & Similar Words

• violence
• assault
• brutality
• injury
• compulsion
• attack
• terror
• pressure
• foul play
• coercion
• harm
• threat
• constraint
• duress
• battery
• damage
• riot
• detriment
• crippling
• savagery
• impairment
• barbarity
• outrage
• hurt
• revolt
• whipping
• shock
• fury
• mayhem
• mutilation
• hammering
• turbulence
• upheaval
• smashing
• buffeting
• beating
• maiming
• whaling
• rupture
• pummeling
• onslaught
• battering
• thrashing
• pounding
• frenzy
• rage
• bashing
• mauling
• flogging
• paddling
• clubbing
• licking
• rampage
• thumping
• belting
• bullying
• bulldozing
• outbreak
• batting
• pelting
• bludgeoning
• drubbing
• paroxysm
• tumult
• walloping
• lacing
• cudgeling
• browbeating
• pommeling
• socking
• strong-arming
• tromping
• uproar
• storm
• hectoring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonviolence
• pacifism
• pacificism

7

as in police

a body of officers of the law

the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

Synonyms & Similar Words

• police
• constabulary
• police force
• finest
• heat
• man
• policeman
• fuzz
• officer
• cop
• trooper
• constable
• police officer
• copper
• gendarme
• bull
• policewoman
• bobby
• peeler
• bluecoat
• shamus

8

as in supply

the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time

the great debate during the Cold War was whether the nation's missile force was adequate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supply
• repertoire
• inventory
• pool
• reservoir
• fund
• budget
• stock
• source
• resource
• reserve
• replacement
• hoard
• cache
• renewal
• spring
• stockpile
• purse
• pot
• refill
• mine
• fountain
• nest egg
• well
• kitty
• wellspring

Synonym Chooser

How is the word force different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of force are coerce, compel, constrain, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

In what contexts can coerce take the place of force?

The meanings of coerce and force largely overlap; however, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

When would compel be a good substitute for force?

While in some cases nearly identical to force, compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

When is it sensible to use constrain instead of force?

While the synonyms constrain and force are close in meaning, constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

When could oblige be used to replace force?

The words oblige and force are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of force

Verb

Emergency crews responding to the incident were repeatedly forced to withdraw to safety because of the threat of further strikes, returning whenever conditions allowed, the emergency services said. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Emergency crews responding to the attack were repeatedly forced to withdraw to safety because of the threat of further strikes, returning whenever conditions allowed, the emergency services said. — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026

Noun

Major naval engagements over more than the last four decades suggest that any navy expecting to fight near an enemy’s coast should be wary of building its force structure around expensive, irreplaceable hulls. — Holmes Liao, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

Pakistani security forces killed 48 militants in a series of raids on hideouts in the country's restive southwest over the past 72 hours, the military said Friday. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing force

• force field
• in force
• labor force
• police force
• tour de force