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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
the forcefulness of his argument is indisputable
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
delivered the punch line with appropriate forcefulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
her clenched teeth only added to the forcefulness of her words
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forceful
Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
But the more forceful rebuke marked a turn in his criticism and defense of his efforts to curb government waste.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 June 2025
His competing agents will want and expect a speedy and forceful sanction, which may bring to a close the career of one of the top agents in the business.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
On the other end of the floor, the Knicks were equally as purposeful and forceful.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Adjective
The chaos marked one of the most forceful uses of National Guard troops in a major U.S. city in recent years, highlighting the widening rift between federal and state leadership over immigration policy and protest management.
—Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
But the more forceful rebuke marked a turn in his criticism and defense of his efforts to curb government waste.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 June 2025
His competing agents will want and expect a speedy and forceful sanction, which may bring to a close the career of one of the top agents in the business.
—Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
On the other end of the floor, the Knicks were equally as purposeful and forceful.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 30 May 2025
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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
19 June 2025
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Arguments for return-to-office would need to be compelling to convince voters and lawmakers that Newsom’s about-face is the better policy for the state and its workers.—
Erik Skindrud,
Mercury News,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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But even in Alberta, a province that has favored development, the legacy policies are still likely not aggressive enough to meet the moment.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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The direct heat from the iron’s metal plate can be too aggressive on delicates but necessary for more structured or heavy-duty materials.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
13 Jan. 2023
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According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.—
Elliot Hughes,
Journal Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
The movie charts the influential British rock group's origin story in the late 1960s, from their earliest days – and how everybody wasn't all about that now-iconic name – to their meteoric rise as one of the world's biggest bands.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Kennedy, who has a history of hostility toward vaccines and has promoted conspiracy theories, earlier this week took the unprecedented step of removing all 17 members of the influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP.—
Bruce Japsen,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Noun
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The intensity extended to the coaching staff: Canales showed up to last Wednesday’s media session with a raspy voice.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
-
As the back-and-forth between Israel and Iran picks up in its intensity, with no end in sight, is there any way to de-escalate tensions in the Mideast before the situation worsens?—
/ CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Anything short of a convincing win would be a massive loss for the club.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
-
Auckland City is the reigning champion of the New Zealand National League and met the qualifying criteria in the most convincing fashion.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The San Francisco Giants answered any remaining questions about their hopes of contending this season with an emphatic move to bring in slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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Sure, the No. 3 pick of the 2018 draft revived his formerly flailing career in an emphatic way last season, injecting himself into the MVP conversation while leading the Minnesota Vikings to the brink of the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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That means doing your best to get in at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise, along with two days of strength training, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
16 June 2025
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But that narrative hasn't stuck to Trump, who is known to ramble in public speeches but comes off as more vigorous to the public than Biden did.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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