1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made a very forceful argument against going to war
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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
This will be another forceful statement from the artist whether intended as such or not.
—
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
Having worked with both individuals, Sullivan should know exactly how to recreate what Schneider has built - teams carried by their rushing attack and forceful defense - and propped up in Seattle for 16 seasons.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The pair voted ‘no’ in a rare and forceful show of public opposition toward a fellow Democrat’s bill.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Pope Leo marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a forceful plea for a world free of antisemitism, prejudice, and persecution.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
Having worked with both individuals, Sullivan should know exactly how to recreate what Schneider has built - teams carried by their rushing attack and forceful defense - and propped up in Seattle for 16 seasons.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The pair voted ‘no’ in a rare and forceful show of public opposition toward a fellow Democrat’s bill.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
Pope Leo marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a forceful plea for a world free of antisemitism, prejudice, and persecution.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
-
The bank admitted that regulatory action is an overhang but said the stock remains too compelling to ignore.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Hicks was deferential to the Democratic candidates who have long served in public office and have compelling personal tales and the experience to take the helm of the state.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The operation also resulted in the killing of two US citizens, the deployment of aggressive tactics by armed, masked DHS agents, and a soaring sense of trepidation permeating Minnesota’s immigrant communities.—
Yahya Salem,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Torres Hidalgo had been diagnosed with the rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer in December 2024.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The sport, therefore, has a strong relationship with the military, with troops in such environments regularly skinning up mountains before skiing back down.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Officers reportedly detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the driver, later identified as Lisboa.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In recognition of Black History Month and its century-long mission to highlight the contributions and impact of Black Americans, this year’s expo pays tribute to one of the most influential eras in Black commerce and economic empowerment.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
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Before the expansion of the 10 Freeway led to the demolition of numerous homes in West Adams, the suburb was home to several affluent and influential Black Angelenos.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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The imitators are increasingly convincing, especially as AI image and video generators get better by the day.—
John Whyte,
STAT,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The freshman guard scored five points, including an emphatic dunk that led to a three-point play, as part of a big run that helped Gonzaga to a 41-29 lead at halftime.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Much of the action is in the form of talking, which the incisively analytical images parse with the emotional precision of dramatic stagings, lending the talk a sort of emphatic onscreen incarnation.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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They can also be thinned to maintain strong, vigorous shoots.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
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Beans and peas planted as companion plants for peppers can give your plants a nutrient boost and promote more vigorous growth.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That fluency can sound authoritative, even though AI is not assessing context or consequence.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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The essay, included in Arendt’s epoch-making 1951 book, The Origins of Totalitarianism, would profoundly influence some of the most authoritative scholars of modern France.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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