1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
forced payment of membership dues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unwilling
not made or done willingly or by choice
participation in the program was forced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forced
Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Making music on my own, the harmonica holder and the harmonica was a way of accompanying myself that didn’t feel forced.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
If the numbers are off, the city will be forced to take cost-cutting measures later this year or face an even bigger hole next year.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forced
Adjective
Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Making music on my own, the harmonica holder and the harmonica was a way of accompanying myself that didn’t feel forced.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
By Saturday the ban was lifted, but several vacationers were forced into extended vacations waiting for their next trip home.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
If the numbers are off, the city will be forced to take cost-cutting measures later this year or face an even bigger hole next year.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forced
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forced
Adjective
-
The victim was taken to the hospital with two stab wounds to her back, and cuts on her arm and hand that authorities say required stitches, per prosecutors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Families and participants are responsible only for transportation to the adventure locations and for obtaining any required hunting or fishing licenses.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Interactions with his wife’s family remain strained; to this day, no one has told 99-year-old Nana that Webster was in prison.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That reunion marked the first time that the father and son had seen each other in 19 months amid their strained relationship.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The government had been unable - or unwilling - to fix it.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
-
In the rare case where someone is unwilling to seek help and a danger to themselves or others, the law enforcement officer is authorized to take someone to the hospital to be assessed against their will.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Given rising trade tensions and the likely unsustainable strength in the export sector, Beijing might eventually be compelled to ramp up its policy measures significantly.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
-
You might be compelled to flirt with the visible lingerie trend or pair a new faux fur coat with tall Uggs.—
Maressa Brown,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The addition of those provisions, the lawsuit argues, violated a requirement in the Missouri Constitution that laws only deal with one subject.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
More recently, the church was sued by a former employee over a policy of compulsory tithing.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
-
The core design feature is compulsory arbitration, where everyone agrees that if there is a dispute, it is heard by a process overseen by the commissioner—and unlike litigation, it is conducted in private.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The semi-annual sale includes so many elegant staples, such as mock-neck cardigans, jackets with unique embellishments, and comfortable pants that look super polished — all starting at just $20.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
She’s arrived early for her first shift and has already started the residents and med students on some training by way of mock codes.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He was coerced into opening a black safe that contained about $400 in cash, and a gold necklace, gold bracelet and gold ring were taken off his body.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
30 Dec. 2025
-
However, both Maher and his third wife Heidi have since claimed that Maher's confession was coerced.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forced. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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