Synonyms of forced

forced 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfȯrst 

1

as in required

forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law

forced payment of membership dues

Synonyms & Similar Words

• required
• compulsory
• incumbent
• mandatory
• necessary
• needed
• urgent
• obligatory
• involuntary
• imperative
• demanded
• enforced
• nonelective
• requisite
• insistent
• persistent
• peremptory
• pressing
• essential
• indispensable
• all-important
• coercive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• voluntary
• optional
• elective
• unnecessary
• discretionary
• unwanted
• chosen
• unimportant
• insignificant
• unneeded
• dispensable
• inconsequential
• nonessential

2

as in strained

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

wasn't thrilled with the suggestion and so responded with a forced smile

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strained
• mock
• affected
• unnatural
• false
• fake
• simulated
• assumed
• contrived
• exaggerated
• mechanical
• artificial
• pretended
• pseudo
• feigned
• plastic
• bogus
• spurious
• phony
• sham
• cute
• theatrical
• factitious
• manufactured
• labored
• automatic
• calculated
• deliberate
• hollow
• empty
• pat
• canned
• unreal
• put-on
• stiff
• hypocritical
• unrealistic
• fabricated
• formal
• concocted
• conscious
• insincere
• conventional
• cultivated
• wooden
• facile
• melodramatic
• rigid
• studied
• unauthentic
• hokey
• impersonal
• unctuous
• inflexible
• mealy
• histrionic
• stylized
• premeditated
• mincing
• overrefined
• two-faced
• left-handed
• genteel
• mealymouthed
• overacted
• simpering
• overdone
• artful
• cutesy
• double-dealing
• goody-goody

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unaffected
• spontaneous
• right
• natural
• real
• genuine
• bona fide
• true
• realistic
• easy
• unforced
• artless
• authentic
• honest
• sincere
• smooth
• unfeigned
• ingenuous
• uncontrived
• unconscious
• effortless
• impromptu
• instinctive
• impulsive
• extemporaneous
• unpretending
• unprompted
• unrehearsed
• unstudied

3

as in unwilling

not made or done willingly or by choice

participation in the program was forced

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unwilling
• coerced
• accidental
• spontaneous
• unintended
• involuntary
• unintentional
• will-less
• automatic
• impulsive
• unplanned
• instinctive
• unconscious
• inadvertent
• unpremeditated
• unprompted
• unwitting
• unknowing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• willing
• voluntary
• deliberate
• intentional
• unforced
• conscious
• planned
• willful
• uncoerced
• advised
• knowing
• considered
• purposeful
• premeditated
• freewill
• volitional
• premeditative
• prepense
• self-imposed
• self-inflicted

forced

2 of 2

verb

past tense of force

1

as in compelled

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

• compelled
• coerced
• obliged
• obligated
• pressured
• drove
• constrained
• impelled
• pressed
• dragooned
• blackmailed
• intimidated
• made
• impressed
• bullied
• sandbagged
• muscled
• threatened
• blackjacked
• browbeat
• dragged
• hectored
• cowed
• bulldozed
• twisted one's arm
• terrorized
• shamed
• badgered
• menaced
• harassed
• hounded
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• allowed
• permitted
• moved
• induced
• convinced
• argued
• satisfied
• won (over)
• persuaded
• talked (into)
• prevailed (on or upon)

2

as in violated

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

• violated
• raped
• assaulted
• ravished
• date raped
• molested
• gang raped
• deflowered
• pawed
• defiled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of forced

Adjective

In the early 1930s, the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty wrote stories denying the famine that Joseph Stalin’s forced-collectivization policies were causing in Ukraine and mocked journalists who reported the truth. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

Hanoi has rejected the USTR’s findings as inaccurate, pointing to its strict anti-forced-labor policies and compliance with International Labour Organization rules. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 27 July 2026

Verb

The legendary sisters were set to reunite earlier this summer at Wimbledon; however, Serena — who, at 44, is in the midst of a comeback after several years away from the sport — was forced to withdraw due to injury. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Fast start for the Hurricanes The defense forced a three and out to begin the game and then Miami quickly marched 77 yards for a touchdown, with Darian Mensah connecting with Malachi Toney for two long passes, including a 23-yard touchdown. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026