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force

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of force

1 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 of force

help, labor force, manpower, personnel, pool, staff, workforce
Words Related to force

labor, proletariat, rank and file

band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, squad, team

employee (also employe), helper, hireling, worker
2 the use of power to impose one's will on another
  • a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force
Synonyms of force

arm-twisting, coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure
Words Related to force

browbeating, bulldozing, bullying

fear, intimidation, menace, sword, terror, terrorism, threat, violence

might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength

hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness

strain, stress
Near Antonyms of force

agreement, approval, consent, permission

convincing, persuasion, reason, suasion
3 the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task
  • got through the college board exams by sheer force of will
Synonyms of force

energy, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, sinew, strength, vigor
Words Related to force

aptitude, capability, capacity, competence, competency

adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, usefulness
Near Antonyms of force

disability, inability, inaptitude, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency

ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness

helplessness, paralysis
Antonyms of force

impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness
4 the capacity to persuade
  • Surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?
Synonyms of force

authority, cogency, conclusiveness, convincingness, effectiveness, forcefulness, persuasion, persuasiveness, suasiveness
Words Related to force

impact, might, power, punch, strength, weight

believability, credibility, soundness, validity

authoritativeness, definitiveness

influence, sway

appeal, seductiveness
Near Antonyms of force

invalidity, shakiness, unsoundness

feebleness, powerlessness, weakness
Antonyms of force

inconclusiveness, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness
5 the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
  • felt the full force of her denunciation of war as a morally acceptable option
Synonyms of force

cogency, effectiveness, forcefulness, impact, point, punch
Words Related to force

payoff

importance, significance

appeal, attraction, charm, fascination
6 the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
  • threatened to resort to force if he wouldn't listen to reason
Synonyms of force

foul play, violence
Words Related to force

coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, pressure

barbarity, brutality, savagery

damage, detriment, harm, hurt, impairment, injury

crippling, maiming, mayhem, mutilation

assault, attack, bashing, battering, battery, beating, belting, bludgeoning, buffeting, clubbing, cudgeling (or cudgelling), drubbing, flogging, hammering, lacing, licking, mauling, paddling, pelting, pommeling (or pommelling), pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), smashing, socking, thrashing, thumping, tromping, walloping, whaling, whipping

frenzy, fury, onslaught, outbreak, outrage, paroxysm, rage, rampage, revolt, riot, rupture, shock, storm, terror, threat, tumult, turbulence, upheaval, uproar

browbeating, bulldozing, bullying, hectoring, strong-arming
Near Antonyms of force

pacificism, pacifism
Antonyms of force

nonviolence
7 a body of officers of the law
  • The new police chief will most likely be someone from the force.
Synonyms of force

constabulary, heat [slang], police, police force
Words Related to force

bobby [British], constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, policeman, police officer, policewoman, shamus [slang], trooper
8 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 of force

budget, fund, inventory, pool, repertoire, reservoir, stock, supply
Words Related to force

reserve, resource

cache, hoard, stockpile

refill, renewal, replacement

kitty, nest egg, pot, purse

fountain, mine, source, spring, well, wellspring

Synonym Discussion of force

power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.
    • the awesome power of flowing water
force implies the actual effective exercise of power.
    • used enough force to push the door open
energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.
    • a worker with boundless energy
strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.
    • use weight training to build your strength
might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.
    • the belief that might makes right

force

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of force

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
  • I had to force myself to get up this morning.
  • They were forced to sell at a lower price.
Synonyms of force

blackjack, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, drive, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, pressure, sandbag
Words Related to force

browbeat, bulldoze, bully, cow, hector, intimidate

blackmail, high-pressure, menace, shame, terrorize, threaten

drag

badger, harass, hound
Phrases Synonymous with force

twist one's arm
Near Antonyms of force

allow, let, permit

argue, convince, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into), win (over)

Synonym Discussion of force

force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige 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
compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.
    • compelled to admit my mistake
coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.
    • coerced into signing over the rights
constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.
    • constrained by conscience
oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.
    • felt obliged to go

Learn More about force

  1. See words that rhyme with force Dictionary: Definition of force Medical Dictionary: Definition of force Spanish Central: Translation of force Nglish: Translation of force for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of force for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about force

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