force 1 of 2

verb

Definition of forcenext
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
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

force

2 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrs How to pronounce force (audio)
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
as in police
a body of officers of the law the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

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

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
Verb
Iran, of course, could force the American military out of its neighborhood without obtaining economic relief. — Narges Bajoghli, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026 If refineries are forced to curtail throughput or shut down entirely due to high winds and power outages, production of refined products such as diesel and gasoline will be directly impaired. — CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Wind gusts are expected to reach tropical storm force near San Diego, where a rare Tropical Storm Watch is in effect, and further inland late Saturday and through Sunday into the Mojave. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026 The agreement’s broad promises — a new Palestinian administration, an international security force, Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal — have stalled amid deepening disagreements. — Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
  1. compel
  2. violate
  3. manpower
  4. pressure
  5. power
  6. effectiveness
  7. impact
  8. violence
Verb
  • Unlike The Traitors, the gameplay does not compel them to form alliances, as the teams are fixed.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • East of Eden probably came your way shortly thereafter, so what factors compelled you to leave home for New Zealand?
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of compel
Verb
  • The government characterized Lemon as part of the demonstration, arguing his actions at a church crossed the line from a reporting to a protesting role, violating the First Amendment right to worship and freedom of religion.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Advisors who do have a fiduciary duty and who violate that responsibility can be subject to fairly serious consequences, including regulatory penalties, civil liabilities and criminal charges.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of violate
Noun
  • They can be deployed or furled in minutes with the push of a button, eliminating conventional rigging from the deck and allowing the yacht to sail with far less manpower.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The parks department and local law enforcement don’t have the manpower to consistently monitor peoples’ speeds with radar guns, staff said.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of manpower
Noun
  • Parallax credits a young female audience with growing clout for proving that films about gender roles, relationships and social pressure can pull in big numbers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Much of that unease stems from mounting costs, and the pressure is being felt across the supply chain.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • State agencies, including the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, have helped local officials with damage assessments and power restoration, among other tasks.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill’s safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The agency has repeatedly reaffirmed the pill's safety and effectiveness over the years, in addition to easing a number of restrictions on the drug, including dropping a requirement that it be dispensed in person.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • The production was shut down in Livingston, Montana last Saturday when locals complained about the production’s impact on the Livingston food bank and improper warnings about hazardous stunts.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Take Niklas Adalberth, who used his wealth from co-founding Klarna to set up the impact investor Norrsken, or Karl-Johan Persson, H&M chairman and grandson of its founder, who regularly backs Swedish startups.
    — Jan Larsson, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of impact
Noun
  • In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In a statement to Rolling Stone, the singer’s attorney, Mathew Rosengart, praised her bravery in fighting the agreement that would have barred her from speaking about her experience and her work with domestic-violence groups.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of violence

Phrases Containing force

Browse Nearby Words

forborne
force
forced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on force

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about force

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of abscond

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All