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as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 forceful That intent could be seen with a more forceful bat flip than usual following his home run. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 22 July 2025 Anguish is redirected into forceful speculation, all without sacrificing the laughs. Vikram Murthi, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2025 Though the worker accused of forceful treatment of kids had only been working at the day care for months, Golden says other parents told him their kids had issues with day care staff. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2025 Although groups had been testing the limits of hard rock for a few years by the time Black Sabbath arrived, the band purified their aggression into a forceful, unrelenting sound that would define a new style of rock. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
  • Having grown up just outside the city—and after a professional chapter in New York—he’s returned to find a design scene that’s evolved in compelling ways.
    Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Watkins’ commitment to teaching science started back in fifth grade, when her science teacher, Joy Ward-Drew, sparked an interest through her compelling teaching style and nurturing skills.
    Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Poor oral hygiene allows plaque bacteria to produce acids that contribute to decay, while aggressive brushing can physically wear away the enamel surface.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Understanding those cultures is crucial if brands want to be more influential and persuasive.
    Tim Wragg, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The company has garnered investments from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former Coinbase CTO and influential investor Balaji Srinivasan.
    Guthrie Scrimgeour, Wired News, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • All contribute to a convincing business vision and clear investment thesis that internal and external stakeholders can understand and convey.
    Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The Dream picked up a nice national TV win in San Francisco on Sunday, knocking off the Golden State Valkyries with a convincing third-quarter blitz.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But the defending World Series champions prevailed in emphatic fashion, picking up a three-game sweep to re-establish a two-game lead in the division.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Already Guerrero seems to be able to convey of-the-moment phrasings and character directions with a few emphatic motions—a roller-coaster swoop here, a waggle of the fingers there—and get an immediate response from the choristers.
    Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Not surprisingly, the live take from the Aug. 2 gig features vigorous chorus help from the stadium crowd, a staple of the enthusiastic response from diehards during the band’s first run of UK dates on their Live ’25 tour.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The voters are entitled to a fair election and a vigorous debate on the issues and the ongoing effort by both political parties, now reaching a fever pitch, to make more and more of those elections non-competitive is excluding that debate and detrimental to problem-solving and to our country.
    Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • And, when those models are grounded in authoritative case law and tax policy information that’s been curated and vetted by attorneys and CPAs, the accuracy and consistency of results is unmatched.
    Laura Clayton McDonnell, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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