1
as in compels
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violates
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
1
as in workforces
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
2
as in pressures
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in police
a body of officers of the law
the police detective retired after 23 years on the force
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in supplies
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forces
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a tense and emotional exchange, Sonia forces Lorenzo to face her blame for never loving her.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Banks has been cast as a former college classmate of Vivian Banks, described as a woman with a big personality who forces Viv to confront her past when the two cross paths again.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Amid all the trolly humor and intentionally obtuse design decisions is a game whose very structure forces you to consider the value of perseverance and commitment.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Seydoux will lead the cast in the role of a renowned pianist who, after relocating with her family to the countryside, uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love, trust, and deception.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
His absence leaves Indiana without its offensive engine and forces a reshaping of the backcourt rotation.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Create a review system that forces brutal honesty and drives real change.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
In addition, governors from multiple red states, including West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, and Tennessee, have sent 1,300 National Guard forces to the District—most of them now armed—at the president’s invitation.
—Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
The evening news reported on atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya and on corruption schemes that implicated top officials in the Kremlin.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
According to the source familiar, there is not a timeline associated with the withdrawal of Israeli forces in that version of the plan.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
The duo has joined forces to take their streaming on the road with destination content in music and comedy, ultimately extending their reach by becoming more of a consumer-facing brand.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
Kenyan security forces were deployed to Haiti in waves over the course of 2024 and 2025 to help the Caribbean nation as it was destabilized by gang violence and civil unrest.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2025
The team has developed an atomically thin material that allows two opposing magnetic forces to coexist, reducing energy use in memory devices by a factor of ten.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The experience not only highlights the uniqueness of the W16 but also underscores the immense forces that allow the Mistral to reach nearly 300 mph with the top down—a mind- (and wind-) blowing feat that cements it as the fastest roadster on the planet.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
So that forces us to be more advanced in dealing with [risks that are considered long-tail] in the US.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a tense and emotional exchange, Sonia forces Lorenzo to face her blame for never loving her.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Banks has been cast as a former college classmate of Vivian Banks, described as a woman with a big personality who forces Viv to confront her past when the two cross paths again.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Amid all the trolly humor and intentionally obtuse design decisions is a game whose very structure forces you to consider the value of perseverance and commitment.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Seydoux will lead the cast in the role of a renowned pianist who, after relocating with her family to the countryside, uncovers a life-shattering truth that forces her to confront the complexities of love, trust, and deception.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
His absence leaves Indiana without its offensive engine and forces a reshaping of the backcourt rotation.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Create a review system that forces brutal honesty and drives real change.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
The younger Bozell had previously founded a group called the Media Research Center, whose mission statement over its nearly 40 years sounds a lot like those forces that went after Kimmel.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
In addition, governors from multiple red states, including West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, and Tennessee, have sent 1,300 National Guard forces to the District—most of them now armed—at the president’s invitation.
—Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
The evening news reported on atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya and on corruption schemes that implicated top officials in the Kremlin.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
According to the source familiar, there is not a timeline associated with the withdrawal of Israeli forces in that version of the plan.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
The duo has joined forces to take their streaming on the road with destination content in music and comedy, ultimately extending their reach by becoming more of a consumer-facing brand.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
Kenyan security forces were deployed to Haiti in waves over the course of 2024 and 2025 to help the Caribbean nation as it was destabilized by gang violence and civil unrest.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2025
The team has developed an atomically thin material that allows two opposing magnetic forces to coexist, reducing energy use in memory devices by a factor of ten.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The experience not only highlights the uniqueness of the W16 but also underscores the immense forces that allow the Mistral to reach nearly 300 mph with the top down—a mind- (and wind-) blowing feat that cements it as the fastest roadster on the planet.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forces
Verb
-
Its central relationship compels, its side characters are rizz-y, and the writing is fire.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Still, the desire to understand the planet compels them to keep putting on their snowsuits, their wet suits, their business suits.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bahari Makmur Sejati violates the Federal Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The answer to the question of what is legal and what is not, what violates an individual’s First Amendment protections can be murky depending on specific circumstances — who said or wrote what and under what circumstances.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As executives seem to be in agreement that the workforces of tomorrow will be leaner than today, leaders like Goodwill CEO Steve Preston worry that the changes will hurt those at the bottom of the ladder the most.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Brands, on the other hand, have leaner workforces.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To help prevent power outages, utilities should be deploying artificial intelligence tools to analyze power supply and improve efficiency without placing additional pressures on the grid.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher (Cillian Murphy) of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
California state police were exempt from the face mask ban.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The group looted Heller Jewelers, located at the City Center Bishop Ranch shopping mall, on Monday afternoon and was armed with at least three guns, according to police.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gardner carted his supplies to this featureless patch of earth near the fort, set up his tripods and cameras, and then arranged his dark tent nearby, out of sight of the camera’s lens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Although Sandu won widespread praise for helping Moldova secure EU candidate status in 2022, some voters were frustrated with the pace of reform and spiraling gas prices, after Russia cut off supplies and Moldova sought new procurement deals with Romania.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While China often threatens and coerces other countries, such as in disputes with South Korea and Australia, its actions are often triggered by events that China feels directly threaten its core interests.—
David C. Kang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Compulsory heterosexuality is a theoretical framework coined by lesbian scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 to describe how heterosexuality as an institution compels and coerces female sexuality for patriarchal purposes.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Lanier rapes Forsythe during a job interview, which O’Brien recounts in upsetting, unwavering detail.—
Jared Sullivan,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2024
-
Donald treats Ivana with similar contempt, and then rapes her.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Forces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forces. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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