Thesaurus

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

squeeze, squeeze play

might, muscle, potency, puissance, strength

hardheadedness, self-will, willfulness

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, firepower, horsepower, might, muscle, potence, 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

expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior

Synonyms of force

cogency, effectiveness, forcefulness, impact, point, punch

Words Related to force

importance, significance

appeal, attraction, charm, fascination

6 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 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, batting, 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

7 a body of officers of the law

the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

Synonyms of force

constabulary, finest, fuzz, heat [slang], man, police, police force

Words Related to force

bluecoat, bobby [British], bull [slang], constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, peeler [British], 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

1 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 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

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)

2 to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent

was accused of forcing a woman

Synonyms of force

assault, rape, ravish, violate

Words Related to force

defile, deflower

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

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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