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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
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
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of force
Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Across Florida and the nation, health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are increasingly forcing one-size-fits-all protocols in cancer care — delaying or denying access to treatment and dictating choices based on their financial bottom line, not patient clinical need.
—Alex Mejia Garcia, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
The power to declare war or authorize the use of force rests with Congress, and unless America has been attacked, that must happen in advance.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for force
Verb
Sarr, in contrast, was a 6-foot-8 sparkplug during Duke’s game-deciding run, punctuated by a full-court steal-and-slam that caused Blue Devil fans to erupt and forced Davis to call a timeout.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Across Florida and the nation, health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are increasingly forcing one-size-fits-all protocols in cancer care — delaying or denying access to treatment and dictating choices based on their financial bottom line, not patient clinical need.
—Alex Mejia Garcia, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
Earlier this week, Noem appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about immigration agents’ use of excessive force and the department spending billions of congressional dollars.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
The power to declare war or authorize the use of force rests with Congress, and unless America has been attacked, that must happen in advance.
—Jill Lawrence, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
Verb
-
It will be encumbered neither by norms nor the exigencies that compel speech in a democratic society.—
Casey Ryan Kelly,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Because when the court declared those tariffs unlawful, the legal injury fell first on the entities that were compelled to pay them.—
Sara Albrecht,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In February, for instance, the Department of Justice joined a lawsuit brought by the 1776 Project Foundation, alleging that the Los Angeles Unified School District had violated the law by conditioning funding on the basis of student race.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Indiana has been at the center of the tanking discussion in the NBA after being fined $100,000 for violating the league’s player participation policy.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Flush with manpower and good health since the trade deadline acquisitions of five new players – while saying goodbye to only one regular from the NHL club – that meant the first in what is sure to be a series of hard decisions for head coach John Hynes.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Firefighters arrived within minutes, but due to heavy fire conditions and the home's rural location, additional assistance, including manpower and water supply, was requested.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Weak onshore flows will then return Saturday, which combined with a weakening high pressure system are expected to bring five to 10 degrees of cooling to the coasts and valleys but little change across interior sections, according to the weather service.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Iran may have positioned the Houthis as a regional player that can exert pressure on Iran’s neighbors, but the Houthis have always put their own interests first.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On Sunday, Iran continued attacks on neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These have questionable or no effectiveness, says Owen.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
-
This is an ideal solution for technically adept web admins who prioritize cost-effectiveness, absolute control, and performance.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The impact on Europe's inflation trajectory hinges on the duration of the conflict, analysts say.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Speculation on munitions While the exact bombs used are not confirmed, the impact points resemble damage seen at Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities during previous operations.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The family of a man fatally shot during a homecoming event at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging the university's failure to maintain adequate security and promptly respond to warnings of potential violence contributed to his death.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
QueenEr’Re was the second 11-year-old to be killed on the block since early 2023, the latest loss in an area already marked by streets named for Derrick Turnbow and Domonic Davis, whose young lives were also claimed by gun violence.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
