forceful

adjective

ˈfȯrs-fəl How to pronounce forceful (audio)
Definition of forcefulnext
1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade made a very forceful argument against going to war

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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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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

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 There is no question that NATO needs to mount a more forceful response to Moscow’s escalation. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 If the Dolphins 2026 first-round pick can do that — be forceful against a future Hall of Famer — in his third NFL start what’s the ceiling for the former University of Alabama standout? — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026 Tehran is preparing a more forceful response if Washington resumes large-scale strikes, Reuters reported. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Unlike Purge, which hit hard right out of the gate with a barrage of forceful metal songs, Decay plays more to Godflesh’s experimental side, and its half a dozen tracks are some of the band’s most sophisticated and emotional songs. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
  1. compelling
  2. aggressive
  3. strong
  4. influential
  5. convincing
  6. emphatic
  7. vigorous
  8. authoritative
Adjective
  • Kendall Jenner and Hunter Schafer, in Valentino and Prada, respectively, wore two of the evening’s most compelling arguments for black and white evening attire.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder started in the realm of absurdist comedy, and with the Holmes project moves into a world of watercooler high crimes and compelling fourth-wall breaking.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of compelling
Adjective
  • Bam Adebayo wasn’t aggressive enough on the offensive side of the ball, which has been a consistent story line of his nine-year NBA career.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • On a network like this, rule-breaking often isn’t aggressive at all.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • But zest was one of just two strengths (the other is hope) that had the strongest relationship to mental well-being across countries and age groups.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Just 3% of respondents expect electricity demand from AI to be lower than forecast; a majority see the technology as becoming more influential than innovations in renewable energy over the next decade.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The backstory One of a raft of Six Senses openings, the hotel is owned by the influential architect Jonathan Leitersdorf.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • The show doesn’t mount a convincing case that there is more to him than that.
    — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Be suspicious of unexpected security alerts A real cybersecurity incident gives scammers an opportunity to send convincing fake breach notifications.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of convincing
Adjective
  • The national government has responded with curfews for parts of cities including Paris, Nice, and Lille, as well as emphatic condemnations of the violence.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Qatar’s energy minister, meanwhile, has been emphatic in rejecting gas pipelines and relocating processing facilities to other countries, committing instead to LNG expansion in Ras Laffan.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • Federal physical activity guidelines recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercise on at least two days.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The society recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, with 300 minutes being ideal.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • This excellent volume contains a series of concise and authoritative essays on key aspects of the Ghetto’s early history, written by leading experts in the field.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The new system will organize types of data that proved difficult to categorize in the past — such as the ways firms make difficult decisions — to make the rankings more authoritative.
    — Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritative

Browse Nearby Words

force field
forceful
forcefully
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Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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