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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
the forcefulness of his argument is indisputable
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2025
To answer your question, a lot of people were relieved to see this forceful approach.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
The government's most forceful request is for Judge Mehta to order the tech company to sell off its popular Chrome browser.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Trump has promised more forceful use of the death penalty, particularly in cases against undocumented immigrants and even in cases where the defendant isn’t accused of murder.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Adjective
Tatum also bullied his way through Magic guard Cole Anthony on a first-quarter layup and leaped to his feet instantly after being knocked to the floor by a Caldwell-Pope foul (a less forceful version of the takedown that caused Tatum’s injury in Game 1).
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2025
To answer your question, a lot of people were relieved to see this forceful approach.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
The government's most forceful request is for Judge Mehta to order the tech company to sell off its popular Chrome browser.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Trump has promised more forceful use of the death penalty, particularly in cases against undocumented immigrants and even in cases where the defendant isn’t accused of murder.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
-
What started as a part-time gig and a family tradition is quickly becoming a compelling franchise opportunity in the landscaping industry.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
And at the end of the day, there’s nothing more compelling than that.—
Danielle Cohen,
Glamour,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
Even so, the aggressive play in this post-season has stood out.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 Liverpool academy graduate, then 24, had spoken publicly about his desire to one day captain his boyhood club and had become an increasingly influential and vocal presence in the dressing room.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
In the Spanish-speaking world, leading conservative and free-market figures remain more influential on social media than think tanks.—
Alejandro Antonio Chafuen,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
There has to be urgency, there has to be force, there has to be intensity, there has to [be] concentration.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
-
The narrative, though minimal, resonates through its intensity and restraint.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
The trends within the trend make an even more convincing case for a comeback, with lactose-free and whole milk consumption up by a respective 12.3% and 3.6%, and a whopping 17.6% surge in the sale of raw milk.—
HubSpot,
HubSpot,
2 May 2025
-
Both Lennox and Sarah Lind, as Alex’s wife, Sam, are serious and convincing, and the musician David Yow, as an oddball private detective following in Alex’s wake, gives the movie some idiosyncratic flair.—
Calum Marsh,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Having brought a 12th NCAA women’s championship back to Connecticut, UConn guard Paige Bueckers is widely expected to be drafted No. 1 after rounding out a stellar college career in the most emphatic fashion.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Liverpool remain on course for an emphatic Premier League title victory, a superb achievement given this is Slot’s first season in English football, but results have dipped.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, Carroll Gardens has been swept up in the vigorous market for Brooklyn townhouses in general — contract signings were up 11 percent last year, according to Serhant.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
8 May 2025
-
Despite vigorous opposition from Congressional Democrats and conservation groups, the House Natural Resource Committee early this morning approved a budget bill that includes a provision to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share