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
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The result is fewer forced sales and less distressed supply.
—Bryce Erickson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Airlines around the world have been forced to cancel flights through multiple cities in the area, affecting thousands of global travelers.
—Karla Cripps, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forced
Adjective
The company is taking part in a new, forced partnership with rival Exxon, which first made the Guyana discovery a decade ago—arguably the largest oil find this century.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
The result is fewer forced sales and less distressed supply.
—Bryce Erickson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Last week, the kingdom was forced to halt operations at the Ras Tanura refinery, the country’s biggest, and is seeking to divert barrels to its Red Sea ports for export after the Hormuz closure.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Airlines around the world have been forced to cancel flights through multiple cities in the area, affecting thousands of global travelers.
—Karla Cripps, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forced
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forced
Adjective
-
The required restitution is a total of $258,563, with $233,164 of that to Ulta Beauty and the rest to the city of Royal Oak.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
One quote the Reios received for the required Burial Site Investigation came to $319,000, according to the CBC.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With Powell missing his third straight game because of a strained right groin, the Heat went with the starting lineup of Davion Mitchell, Herro, Pelle Larsson, Andrew Wiggins and Adebayo for the third consecutive game.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The White House pledge for tech companies responds to fears of what data center buildouts mean for everyday Americans’ strained wallets.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Iran was either unable or unwilling to help Hamas or Hezbollah fend off Israeli attacks.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Many people fear the ocean and are unwilling to enter its waters.—
Stella Fong,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Republicans compelled the former secretary of state to testify; her husband, former President Bill Clinton will do so today.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Victims would not be compelled to testify against their wishes, according to Rashid.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In January, a judge ruled that the city violated the state’s open meeting law when council members made a plan behind closed doors to sweep 9,800 homeless encampments.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
In February, for instance, the Department of Justice joined a lawsuit brought by the 1776 Project Foundation, alleging that the Los Angeles Unified School District had violated the law by conditioning funding on the basis of student race.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He’s also been convicted of improper disposal of a human body, compulsory insurance violations, distributing or dispensing Class B drugs, and possession with intent to distribute Class B drugs.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Bella Paguyo returns after winning last year’s compulsory title; she’ll be joined by a quartet of stellar freshmen.—
Breven Honda,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The video was a standout moment alongside the romantic ballad, though, as Bruno picked up the guitar and delivered on the Latin love story with a mock wedding — and pulled on the heartstrings with a relationship that just about everyone would sign up to grow old for.—
Eric Renner Brown,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Wildcats feature potential first-round picks in freshmen Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, with Motiejus Krivas mentioned in some mock drafts.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, in early 2026, Banegas claimed his attorneys coerced him into pleading guilty and sought to change his plea.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Two similar situated individuals, both coerced to commit a murder have a different sentencing structure.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forced. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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