1
as in to compel
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the public outcry from the scandal forced the mayor to resign road construction forced them to take an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in manpower
a body of persons at work or available for work
the entire force of the shipyard will be needed to get this government order done on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in power
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task
got through the college board exams by sheer force of will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
the officer threatened to resort to force if the suspect did not surrender
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
8
as in supply
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time
the great debate during the Cold War was whether the nation's missile force was adequate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 force
Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In some older buildings, condo owners are being asked to pay steep special assessments that threaten to force some people out of their homes.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 3 May 2025
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.
—Sam Mednick and Renata Brito, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for force
Verb
Referee David Webb’s Premier League debut lasted just 22 minutes as he was forced to leave the field during the first half of the clash between Leicester City and Southampton at King Power Stadium.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In some older buildings, condo owners are being asked to pay steep special assessments that threaten to force some people out of their homes.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 3 May 2025
Noun
But where Apex’s movement is fast-paced and its ever-dwindling map size forces players together over time to ratchet up tension, Marathon feels slow and mundane by comparison.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.
—Sam Mednick and Renata Brito, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
Verb
-
That we are compelled to take Miller’s suggestion seriously is a measure of the gravity of the threat to American democracy.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
12 May 2025
-
However, unbeknownst to Joe or the four cooks, Edward felt compelled by Joe's message and sent another food critic to secretly review the restaurant.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Last week a federal appeals court upheld Sessions’ order to bring Ozturk back to New England for hearings to determine whether her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process, were violated, as her lawyers argue.—
Rodrique Ngowi,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2025
-
That was when the makers, Epic Games, included a direct payment option into the app, which violated Apple’s rules.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
The Trump Factor Cost-of-living pressures and concerns about Trump's volatile trade and other policies had been among the top issues on voters' minds, opinion polls showed.—
Kirsty Needham,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
Nowadays, there is less pressure to make everything from scratch and have a perfect home.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
The show explores themes of power, identity and culture in Harlem.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
Bucharest Reuters — Romanians voted on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could propel hard-right eurosceptic George Simion to power in a ballot that will test the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Noun
-
The impact, should anything close to this come to pass, would be seismic on the global film sector.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
5 May 2025
-
Rose Camellia delivers a big impact in tight spaces with its unusual conical form.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
In terms of violence, it's got plenty of gunfight and action scenes, plus one somewhat main character gets shot in the face early in the movie.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
Flores pleaded guilty last year to charges of assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Progressed photo used to show what Ava could look like Ava is a 9-year-old Hispanic female with straight brown hair and brown eyes, Austin police said.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
-
Garcia said Wednesday that police were searching for the two unidentified suspects.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Bring along as much food and water for pets as possible, as well as dishes for each; the Animal Health Foundation suggests about a week's supply of food.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
Yell and the regiment were tasked with ensuring that the army's supplies were transported to the new camp, but after Mexican forces fired upon the Arkansans, Yell burned the supplies that had not yet been removed and retreated after the rest of the army to Buena Vista.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share