1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made a very forceful argument against going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forceful
Those strange things in the air have gotten stranger and stranger since then, but Black Angels remains as the forceful, alarming, beautiful work that brought the form of the string quartet to relevance in a shattered time.
—
Liza Lentini, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2026
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The American Conservative has been among the most forceful conservative critics of the Iran operation.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
While many residents supported the effort to reclaim public space, critics viewed the demolitions as a forceful and unilateral government decision.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Liza Lentini, SPIN, 3 Apr. 2026
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
The American Conservative has been among the most forceful conservative critics of the Iran operation.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
While many residents supported the effort to reclaim public space, critics viewed the demolitions as a forceful and unilateral government decision.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 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.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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Masters Sunday is now ripe for a compelling conclusion.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Bart argues that such promotion has a salutary social function, reaching people in underserved communities who might not otherwise be aware that they are entitled to aggressive, contingency-fee advocacy.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The professional soccer player previously accused Chappell Roan's security of aggressive behavior to his 11-year-old stepdaughter.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Royal Bahamian police said Brian Hooker told investigators that his wife fell over from an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy — along with the keys to the boat — and she was carried away by strong rip currents.—
Cristian Benavides,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
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The National Weather Service says strong winds could generate breaking waves of 8 feet causing dune erosion and road overwash.—
Mark Price
April 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Nation’s members and affiliates through the years have included some of the most influential artists in rap history.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
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Through interviews with other influential artists, the film highlights the emotional and societal burdens that accompany their achievements, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in celebrating their contributions to music and culture.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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How Deborah sets the record straight, once and for all, may not be as convincing as some may hope, but the spirit of her choice matters more than the specifics.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
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Mistaking a Replica for a Real Antique Replicas of antiques are so good nowadays, with stores like HomeGoods and Anthropologie often selling convincing dupes.—
Shelby Deering,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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May and the Wolverines delivered the winningest season in program history (37-3), punctuated by one of the most emphatic NCAA Tournament runs in recent decades.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Christian Petersen / Getty Images The emphatic victory capped off a dominant run through March Madness for the Bruins, led by 6-foot-7 senior center Lauren Betts, who led the team in scoring in four of their six games.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That vigorous growth can actually be a fun talking point for kids learning about how plants behave differently — and why some need a little extra management.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
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Mowing may be time consuming but is a critical part of maintaining a vigorous lawn.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Baumrind believed parents who were not authoritarian were either authoritative or permissive.—
Kelley King Heyworth,
Parents,
5 Apr. 2026
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These articles add depth to a brand’s digital footprint and act as authoritative signals when AI tools evaluate credibility.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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