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"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The marine reptile also had serrated teeth, an extra bony pocket in its skull where neck muscles attached, and heavier jaw muscles, giving it a more forceful bite.
—
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Her statement was met with a forceful rebuttal from Deputy District Attorney Joanna Lee, the lead prosecutor.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
But Franklin is the more forceful and insightful critic of all the ways the county has gone astray.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Clearly, the indictment showed that art can and forever will be a forceful weapon when wielded properly.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Her statement was met with a forceful rebuttal from Deputy District Attorney Joanna Lee, the lead prosecutor.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
But Franklin is the more forceful and insightful critic of all the ways the county has gone astray.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026
Clearly, the indictment showed that art can and forever will be a forceful weapon when wielded properly.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
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Dollar General & National Vision Holdings Both retailers remain extremely compelling, according to Bank of America.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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That, in turn, catalyzed the most aggressive Fed rate-hiking cycle ever and a bear market.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
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Carolina’s penalty kill is extremely aggressive all over the ice.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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For dinner off the islet, the local fine dining scene is strong with options like Chef Duc’s Mango Rooms, and Mùa by Truc, which are all worth a visit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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There will also be a strong north to south longshore current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Some of the most influential American innovations began as side projects, accidents, or niche engineering solutions before quietly changing how people communicate, travel, work, eat, and survive.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
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State senators and friends hailed outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney on Wednesday as a living legend ahead of his retirement after 46 years as one of the most influential players at the state Capitol.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The commentary is loud and the theater is convincing.—
Rohit Kedia,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Limit how much personal information is online Data broker listings can expose your address, phone number, relatives and other details scammers use to build more convincing attacks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Meja Örtengren delivered one of Stanford’s most emphatic points, beating USC freshman Jasmine Koo 6 and 5.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
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And Mateus Mane’s excellent first Premier League goal in the 3-0 home win over West Ham United, as well as Adam Armstrong’s emphatic finish in the 2-2 comeback draw at Brentford in March.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.—
Ezekiel J. Emanuel,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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Heavy pruning may cause the plant to produce excessive new, vigorous branches.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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For anything involving legal citations or regulatory references, every single citation must be independently verified against authoritative sources before submission.—
Gloria Domingos,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.—
Nandika Chatterjee,
Time,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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