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 Old pollution would not be this forceful, according to internal documents written by agency staff. — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026 Though Gemini was happy to do the task (unlike ChatGPT, which was more forceful in not generating synthetic data or studies), the result was underwhelming. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Oct. 2026 Anderson’s cover is string-heavy and tropical in nature, but where Buffett sang it with a forceful voice, Anderson goes for soft and understated, allowing both men’s versions to stand distinctly on their own. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2026 The special forces arrived a day after Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue the four aviation technicians and threatened a more forceful response if they’re not released alive and unharmed. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 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
  • Locally, the most compelling cage fight is a rematch between the last mayoral candidates, putting two political rivals back in the ring after one of this city’s most contentious mayoral races.
    — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The study provided some of the most compelling evidence that some dinosaurs developed specialized diets associated with flowering plants.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of compelling
Adjective
  • But Adebayo was aggressive and found a rhythm early on, totaling 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 shooting from the foul line, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals on Wednesday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That is leading to unprecedented support for more aggressive federal action on health care.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • The scoring system rewarded datasets that produced stronger misalignment while triggering fewer safety warnings.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • While Republicans there have a modest registration advantage, Democrats are posting strong numbers in early and mail-in voting.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Wilson also had the endorsement of Gallon, an influential figure in the district who is replacing Congressman-Elect Oliver Gilbert on the county commission.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Just days earlier, Chevalier delivered a major upset in New York's 13th Congressional District, narrowly defeating Adriano Espaillat, the influential chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • Despite its sweeping celestial setting, the whole series was constrained, relying on face-to-face conversations in tiny offices to convey plot, and action scenes that often looked like scuffles in a blocky, dark, half-convincing cave.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • If wearing jeans on the plane seems like a hard sell, wearing white jeans on the plane may take even more convincing—but according to Fass, the look needn’t be high-maintenance.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of convincing
Adjective
  • The Missouri Tigers made an emphatic statement to start the 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a 111-50 win over Cleveland State.
    — PJ Green November 3, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • After a 14-point road win in Game 2, a 97-71 victory was emphatic and Atlanta have built up the kind of momentum that might just be unstoppable.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • In this vivid and vigorous new biography, literary critic Hermione Lee makes the case for Brookner as a literary figure worth not only remembering but celebrating.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Some breathlessness during stair climbing can be normal, especially during vigorous activity.
    — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • BigXthaPlug, a Dallas, Texas, vocalist with a deep, grainy, and authoritative mic presence, is one of the most intriguing voices in years.
    — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
  • His Picard is authoritative, with none of the friendly push and pull with his underlings that Kirk had.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 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 6 Nov. 2026.

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