1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made a very forceful argument against going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
kept asking until I gave a very forceful and blunt "no"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty
took a forceful stand on the highly controversial issue
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4
as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others
a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forceful
Citadel Securities’ Frank Flight wrote a forceful rebuttal Tuesday of the Citrini report, arguing that current data simply doesn’t show AI adoption happening fast enough to meaningfully displace workers.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Where the artist’s pounding was most forceful, the enamel is stripped away entirely, exposing the metal substrate beneath, which then doubles as the actual peak of the mountain.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Iranian officials have vowed a forceful retaliation, raising fears the conflict could spread across the region.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Experts say that most likely doesn't presage military clashes, but is intended to advance a broader effort to assert a more forceful regional role backed by Kim's nuclear arsenal and ties with Moscow and Beijing.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Where the artist’s pounding was most forceful, the enamel is stripped away entirely, exposing the metal substrate beneath, which then doubles as the actual peak of the mountain.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Iranian officials have vowed a forceful retaliation, raising fears the conflict could spread across the region.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
Experts say that most likely doesn't presage military clashes, but is intended to advance a broader effort to assert a more forceful regional role backed by Kim's nuclear arsenal and ties with Moscow and Beijing.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
-
Burke has been in multiple audiences of its national tour for a compelling reason.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
For anyone using a Pixel 8a or an older device, however, the upgrade is far more compelling thanks to better battery life, improved cameras, expanded AI capabilities, and new software features.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While their offer was aggressive, the deal wasn’t done in a numbers vacuum.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Slater had been particularly aggressive against Big Tech companies during her tenure.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Tokyo has shown no interest in military involvement, but some experts believe the conflict could bolster Takaichi's push for a stronger military and expanded weapons sales.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
At stake is the group’s editorial independence — and whether its journalists will continue to report freely without fear of state pressure — as well as public trust in one of East Africa’s most influential media institutions.—
Vivianne Wandera,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Watson eventually became a co-host on the show, which would provide an early platform for influential artists including Jay-Z, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Can a piece about internal weather make a convincing leap to the big screen?—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
With six wins in their last seven games, the Lakers leap-frogged the Minnesota Timberwolves in the standings Tuesday after a convincing 120-106 win over the two-time Western Conference finalists.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the end, CoreCivic won over city leaders despite the emphatic opposition of outspoken residents and a year-long legal battle in which the company repeatedly argued that it should be allowed to reopen without a zoning permit.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
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Reneau was the catalyst of the run, opening the final 20 minutes with seven straight points, and Dante Allen finished off the decisive 10-0 run with an emphatic and-one slam.—
Hunter Bailey,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Constitutional law might have been argued, but both sides took their turn in vigorous but orderly debate.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The best trees for bare-root planting are those with vigorous, resilient root systems that can quickly regenerate roots after transplanting.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The foundation of San Diego’s fast start has been an organized, increasingly authoritative defensive spine led by Christopher McVey, Manu Duah and Kieran Sargeant.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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That decline in leadership shows up in authoritative surveys like the Pew Research Center’s benchmark poll, which finds that trust in government to do what’s right is hovering near historic lows.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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