Synonyms of forces

forces 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of force

1

as in compels

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

• compels
• coerces
• obliges
• obligates
• pressures
• drives
• constrains
• muscles
• impels
• presses
• dragoons
• blackmails
• bullies
• impresses
• intimidates
• sandbags
• makes
• threatens
• cows
• blackjacks
• twists one's arm
• menaces
• browbeats
• high-pressures
• drags
• terrorizes
• bulldozes
• shames
• hectors
• badgers
• harasses
• hounds

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permits
• allows
• lets
• moves
• argues
• induces
• wins (over)
• satisfies
• prevails (on or upon)
• talks (into)
• convinces
• persuades

2

as in violates

to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent

was accused of forcing a woman

Synonyms & Similar Words

• violates
• rapes
• assaults
• ravishes
• date rapes
• gang rapes
• deflowers
• molests
• paws
• defiles

forces

2 of 2

noun

plural of force

1

as in workforces

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

• workforces
• staffs
• manpowers
• pools
• crews
• workers
• labor forces
• personnels
• help
• employees
• teams
• companies
• squads
• helpers
• gangs
• proletariats
• bands
• hirelings
• outfits
• parties
• supports
• labors
• blood
• rank and files

2

as in pressures

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

• pressures
• constraints
• compulsions
• violences
• intimidations
• coercions
• fears
• threats
• stresses
• strengths
• terrors
• arm-twistings
• muscles
• duresses
• menaces
• terrorisms
• swords
• squeezes
• potencies
• mights
• puissances
• browbeatings
• bulldozings
• squeeze plays
• self-wills
• strains

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreements
• consents
• approvals
• permissions
• reasons
• persuasions
• suasions

3

as in police

a body of officers of the law

the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

Synonyms & Similar Words

• police
• constabularies
• police forces
• men
• policemen
• heat
• officers
• cops
• troopers
• gendarmes
• constables
• police officers
• bluecoats
• policewomen
• coppers
• fuzzes
• bulls
• bobbies
• shamuses
• peelers

4

as in supplies

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

• supplies
• inventories
• repertoires
• funds
• pools
• reservoirs
• budgets
• stocks
• resources
• sources
• hoards
• reserves
• stockpiles
• replacements
• caches
• mines
• springs
• renewals
• wells
• purses
• fountains
• refills
• nest eggs
• kitties
• pots
• wellsprings

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of forces

Verb

The companies and economies that endure will be the ones that can balance growth, resilience and sustainability—and change before outside pressure forces them to. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

The process forces light atomic nuclei together at extremely high temperatures and under intense pressure. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

And yet there’s this piece in the policy which pokes its head [and forces them to find a surrogate in Texas]. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Similarly, the interplay enacted in the exhibition between Jafa’s and Prince’s work forces us as visitors to actively participate in a practice of juxtapositional thinking ourselves, producing a momentum that is at once menacing and enlivening. — Tina M. Campt, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Regulation forces you to be accountable for the result, not for one step of the workflow. — Adriana Munoz Vergara, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Reese gets credit in that comparison when a teammate forces a difficult shot or an opponent simply misses an open one. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Russia already forces foreign vessels to submit to a complicated and suffocating system of permissions and permits to operate within its exclusive economic zone. — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Cooper told Fox40 that changes to state parole laws are up to the state Legislature, which might not act until a high-profile case forces its hands. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

That flexibility gives naval forces another option when a platform faces different types of threats. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Among the passengers who intervened were members of the Israeli security forces and air marshals, according to a person familiar with a probe by Saudi Arabia and regional partners. — Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026

Zelensky said Thursday that Kyiv’s forces struck a site in Russia’s southwestern Oryol region that is used to store and launch attack drones. — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Why the trend is taking off now Two forces are pushing workstation sinks into more kitchens. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026

In an alternate-history 1904, America is still only thirteen colonies, due to the dark forces of maddening angels that warp humans’ minds and bodies. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

American forces made a formal exit from Iraq with a low-key ceremony. — Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Rebel forces in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray launched a major offensive against the government, ending a four-year ceasefire that had halted a gruesome conflict. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Eastern Long Island could be hit hard by those forces, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter told the outlet. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing forces

• armed forces