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

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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?

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in police
a body of officers of the law the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

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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
The Ryder Cup’s intensity boiled over into something darker, as personal insults, family taunts and body-shaming heckles forced police intervention and raised serious questions about fan behavior. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Sep. 2025 The Fighting Irish scored touchdowns after their first five possessions and appeared ready to take a 35-13 lead into halftime before safety Adon Shuler forced and recovered a fumble from Raylen Sharpe after a 20-yard catch and run to the Hogs’ 45-yard line. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday its forces had struck Ukrainian military-industrial facilities as well as gas and energy infrastructure overnight. —CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025 Aside from games like volleyball and dominoes, Gach says some children stage fake ambushes on one another while pretending to be government forces or rebel fighters. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Oct. 2025 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
  • The rally aimed to compel Starbucks to finalize the collective bargaining contract for improved staffing, shift hours, take-home pay and on-the-job protections for its baristas.
    — Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025
  • And yet, today, a few pieces of evidence are compelling us to reconsider this scenario.
    — Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of compel
Verb
  • The president of the European Commission highlighted that in just the last two weeks, Russian drones and warplanes have violated the airspace of six European nations, scrambling jets, grounding commercial flights and posing a direct threat to EU citizens.
    — Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Lawsuits filed in recent days claim the federal government is overstepping its authority and violating constitutional protections.
    — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of violate
Noun
  • Green Hill plans to help restart Smith Springs financially, provide manpower for physical work and could potentially have some of its congregants move to Smith Springs Baptist, officials said.
    — Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
  • In 2025, several nations stand out for combining vast manpower with modern weapons, strong budgets, and the ability to influence events far beyond their borders.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Definition of manpower
Noun
  • Like any sector of tech, there’s pressure to innovate, of course.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The move follows mounting political pressure and marks a shift in how YouTube handles past bans tied to outdated policies.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • Hanke relates that it was riddled with loopholes that handed the Banco Central de la República Argentina discretionary monetary powers.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • There’s no denying the cost-effectiveness of investing in a high-quality luggage set, so this seasonal sale is the time to score the Coolife Luggage 4-piece Set while bags are only $34 apiece.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Young children have to use spacers, holding chambers that allow the patient to breathe in the medication slowly so more of it reaches the lungs, and a spacer would hinder a dry-powder inhaler’s effectiveness.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Scott had already been replaced as the closer with Rōki Sasaki, who is one of the few members of the bullpen making a major impact for Los Angeles in the playoffs.
    — Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Check with local officials for any road closures or impacts.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of impact
Noun
  • Monster has debuted into this very fraught political moment where, despite no evidence showing a link between violence and transness, right-wingers have gone to great pains to paint almost every mass shooter who makes front page news as trans in hopes of stripping trans people of their rights.
    — Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
  • Companies can now detect many types of incidents involving violence in a few seconds, although some complex situations, such as self-harm and suicide, remain difficult to address through automation.
    — John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of violence

Phrases Containing force

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forborne
force
forced
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Cite this Entry

“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on force

Nglish: Translation of force for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about force

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