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
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 forced
Zaha Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025
Chhattisgarh is one of 11 Indian states with anti-conversion laws that, despite being meant to prevent forced conversations, are widely reported to be used to intimidate and penalize religious minorities, the ICC said.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Don’t wait for a forced upgrade or risk getting left behind as devs shift to newer tech.
—PC Magazine, 19 July 2025
Their cumulative stats in those 16 games are exceptional: 18.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 49 quarterback hits and six forced fumbles.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for forced
Adjective
No Arab government will entertain the forced displacement of Palestinians.
—Zaha Hassan, Foreign Affairs, 29 July 2025
Chhattisgarh is one of 11 Indian states with anti-conversion laws that, despite being meant to prevent forced conversations, are widely reported to be used to intimidate and penalize religious minorities, the ICC said.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Don’t wait for a forced upgrade or risk getting left behind as devs shift to newer tech.
—PC Magazine, 19 July 2025
Their cumulative stats in those 16 games are exceptional: 18.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, 49 quarterback hits and six forced fumbles.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for forced
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forced
Adjective
-
One Dallas restaurant failed, six required reinspection and three had roaches or rodent droppings in the most recent round of city health inspections, according to the inspection reports.—
Samara Gerstle,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 July 2025
-
No required Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification from the company was viewable on the state’s Labor and Economic Opportunity website as of the morning of Wednesday, July 23.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Power grids are strained, data centers are bottlenecked and companies keep throwing more hardware at the problem.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Although family relations might be a bit strained today, this is still a great day for discussions about finances, shared property, inheritances and banking matters.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Indeed, both men have been cast as strongmen—with Putin portrayed as unwilling to back down in the war in Ukraine, and Trump lauded in some circles for his real life application of mad-man theory or his big and bold negotiating style.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Despite his pleading for her forgiveness, Marian seemed unwilling to give Larry another chance—that is, until Jack corroborated Larry's story.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The bipartisan vote for release marks a significant shift, as Republicans in the full House had previously blocked two Democratic resolutions that would have compelled the report's release.—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Without China making the first move, Chinese firms will be compelled by genuine market forces rather than often heavy-handed and inefficient state mandates to realize Xi’s vision.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that the commission, by approving the plans, has violated their fundamental rights.—
Amy Green,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Months later, the Department of Justice concluded that five Texas juvenile detention centers violated children's constitutional and civil rights.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Yeshiva leaders were told to have parents find other ways of educating their children to satisfy the state’s compulsory education law, while their schools were slated to lose public funds.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
-
For example, Department of Education regulators are tasked with determining what subjects private institutions are teaching and if their curriculum adheres to compulsory education standards.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
To supplement those real-life cases, providers visit simulation labs, do monthly mock scenarios, and review advanced skills, such as using an ultrasound to help guide breathing tubes into patient airways.—
Arielle Zionts. KFF Health News,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The tin box includes a hinged plastic clear window where a small paper copy of an issue of The Daily Planet, featuring a large photo of Superboy’s canine pal Krypto on the front page with a mock story.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The jury did not find, however, that Carroll was raped.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The woman, who filed her lawsuit under the name Jane Doe, alleged she was raped after she was driven to an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty 24 years ago.—
Charmaine Patterson,
People.com,
27 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forced. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share