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
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Recent Examples of force
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
It was recently reported that Moscow might be forced to slash its non-military spending by 10%, owing to the spiralling cost of its war in Ukraine and the impact of sanctions.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026
Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
In the upcoming episode, Kayce and Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) search for survivors of a helicopter crash while the rest of the team tries to clear Kayce's name in a use of force complaint.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for force
Verb
Jason Momoa and his family were among thousands forced to flee O’ahu’s North Shore amid the state’s catastrophic floods.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2026
It was recently reported that Moscow might be forced to slash its non-military spending by 10%, owing to the spiralling cost of its war in Ukraine and the impact of sanctions.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Trump has ruled out sending in ground troops, though his administration has hinted at a possible deployment of special forces or similar units.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
In the upcoming episode, Kayce and Calvin (Logan Marshall-Green) search for survivors of a helicopter crash while the rest of the team tries to clear Kayce's name in a use of force complaint.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
Verb
-
Even so, each glimpse of what lies beyond Earth compels us to search farther.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The 38-year-old, a regular at ongoing weekend protests outside ICE’s Broadview processing center, said he felt compelled to come to O’Hare and apply his training in documenting federal agents.—
Talia Soglin,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Democrats in Congress have also sought to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing her of directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to violate the public's constitutional rights in its enforcement actions.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
DraftKings might also argue that a temporary restraining order is unwarranted since if the company has violated the NCAA’s marks, a court could later empirically assess damages and issue monetary damages.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If Russia cannot convert its manpower advantage into decisive victories, and if Ukraine can keep undermining Moscow’s ability to finance the war, attrition will eventually work in Kyiv’s favor.—
Olivier Kempf,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The Clippers were short on manpower Thursday night against a team that has found some late-season life.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Traffic and school pressures brought on by growth concern people in the panhandle.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Iran also kept up pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fully built out, the data center will pull a gigawatt from Arkansas' power grid, which is enough to power approximately 750,000 homes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Archaeologists discovered two astonishing Iron Age hoards in North Yorkshire, one of them being the largest ever found in British history, which has changed the historical understanding of wealth and power in pre-Roman Britain.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My father mobilized peaceful protest with rare effectiveness — and was met with state violence.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The fact that the barrels remain in an exceptional state of preservation speaks to the effectiveness of this 17th-century strategy to store lime long-term.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
MacEgan family speaks in court Before Abril was formally sentenced, the court allowed the MacEgan family to speak about the impact of these crimes and the family patriarch’s death.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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While the $6 million in damages a jury in Los Angeles awarded to the 20-year-old plaintiff — which the companies vowed to appeal — will barely register on their balance sheets, the impact of the verdict will likely be more damaging and harder to quantify.—
Kurt Wagner,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fingerhut said his organization had warned federal officials just a day before the Michigan attack that the risk of violence was escalating, describing the incident as coming within inches of becoming something far worse.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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Early Wednesday morning, FSU kicker Conor McAneney was arrested on felony charges for battery of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence, according to jail records.—
Bri Buckley,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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