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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in police
a body of officers of the law
the police detective retired after 23 years on the force
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forces
Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, the indie is set in the near future, where a retired soldier’s isolated existence is shattered when a runaway female android seeks refuge on his farm, sparking an unexpected bond that forces them to fight for their survival and for each other.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Robinson's Monday court appearance was for a waiver hearing to determine whether the defense forces prosecutors to present probable cause before the case proceeds.
—Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
His life is upended when his brother, portrayed by Sean Bean, shows up and forces him to confront his mysterious past.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
So that forces us to be more advanced in dealing with [risks that are considered long-tail] in the US.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a tense and emotional exchange, Sonia forces Lorenzo to face her blame for never loving her.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Banks has been cast as a former college classmate of Vivian Banks, described as a woman with a big personality who forces Viv to confront her past when the two cross paths again.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has backed separatist forces in the breakaway Transnistria region, as a foothold to keep up pressure on the central government in Chișinău.
—John E. Herbst, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
Though Israeli forces will continue to encircle Gaza City, this lull in combat operations is intended to allow Hamas members to locate the 48 remaining hostages, the Israeli military said, with fewer than half of those estimated to be still alive.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
That election saw a multitude of opposition parties join forces to form a patchwork administration and oust the LDP for the first time since its formation.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Twenty years later, after the Taliban again seized control following the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces in 2021, many wondered how long the internet, and its vast well of vice, would be allowed to remain.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
The younger Bozell had previously founded a group called the Media Research Center, whose mission statement over its nearly 40 years sounds a lot like those forces that went after Kimmel.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
The duo has joined forces to take their streaming on the road with destination content in music and comedy, ultimately extending their reach by becoming more of a consumer-facing brand.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
The team has developed an atomically thin material that allows two opposing magnetic forces to coexist, reducing energy use in memory devices by a factor of ten.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
And maybe, just maybe, forces Hamas to surrender in Gaza.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, the indie is set in the near future, where a retired soldier’s isolated existence is shattered when a runaway female android seeks refuge on his farm, sparking an unexpected bond that forces them to fight for their survival and for each other.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Robinson's Monday court appearance was for a waiver hearing to determine whether the defense forces prosecutors to present probable cause before the case proceeds.
—Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
His life is upended when his brother, portrayed by Sean Bean, shows up and forces him to confront his mysterious past.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
So that forces us to be more advanced in dealing with [risks that are considered long-tail] in the US.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
The agent then grabs Moreta-Galarza and forces her several feet down the hallway and into a wall.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a tense and emotional exchange, Sonia forces Lorenzo to face her blame for never loving her.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Banks has been cast as a former college classmate of Vivian Banks, described as a woman with a big personality who forces Viv to confront her past when the two cross paths again.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Israel says its air strikes against Hezbollah forces in Syria were one factor in the unexpected fall of the Assad regime there in December 2024.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has backed separatist forces in the breakaway Transnistria region, as a foothold to keep up pressure on the central government in Chișinău.
—John E. Herbst, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
Though Israeli forces will continue to encircle Gaza City, this lull in combat operations is intended to allow Hamas members to locate the 48 remaining hostages, the Israeli military said, with fewer than half of those estimated to be still alive.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
That election saw a multitude of opposition parties join forces to form a patchwork administration and oust the LDP for the first time since its formation.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Twenty years later, after the Taliban again seized control following the chaotic withdrawal of Western forces in 2021, many wondered how long the internet, and its vast well of vice, would be allowed to remain.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
The younger Bozell had previously founded a group called the Media Research Center, whose mission statement over its nearly 40 years sounds a lot like those forces that went after Kimmel.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
The duo has joined forces to take their streaming on the road with destination content in music and comedy, ultimately extending their reach by becoming more of a consumer-facing brand.
—Giana Levy, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
The team has developed an atomically thin material that allows two opposing magnetic forces to coexist, reducing energy use in memory devices by a factor of ten.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forces
Verb
-
Both sides may have reasons to cut a deal before pretrial discovery compels Goodell, Gruden and others to testify under oath and share sensitive emails, texts and other documents.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Its central relationship compels, its side characters are rizz-y, and the writing is fire.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But others say the law violates the First Amendment rights of counselors wishing to engage in the practice.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Although the ‘9-9-6’ workweek violates Chinese labor laws, it was famously endorsed by Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma in 2019.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Better Tech + Better Managers = Better Experience Like with Amazon and many other employers with large blue-collar workforces, technology is being used to improve quality of life for frontline employees.—
Aman Kidwai,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Vought’s announcement followed his directing of federal departments and agencies to prepare to reduce their respective workforces if there were a shutdown.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These new pressures add to existing ones, such as building state-of-the-art facilities and hiring expensive coaches in hopes of landing recruits.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The budget pressures departments to have state employees return to their offices instead of working at home as many have done since the 2020 pandemic.—
Paul Egan,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After the rally began in Cincinnati, around 100 people crossed the Roebling Bridge, heading toward Covington, according to police.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The letter detailed that the White Bear Lake Police department is now conducting an investigation into the incident, and said that the individual was now in police custody.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gardner carted his supplies to this featureless patch of earth near the fort, set up his tripods and cameras, and then arranged his dark tent nearby, out of sight of the camera’s lens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Although Sandu won widespread praise for helping Moldova secure EU candidate status in 2022, some voters were frustrated with the pace of reform and spiraling gas prices, after Russia cut off supplies and Moldova sought new procurement deals with Romania.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While China often threatens and coerces other countries, such as in disputes with South Korea and Australia, its actions are often triggered by events that China feels directly threaten its core interests.—
David C. Kang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Compulsory heterosexuality is a theoretical framework coined by lesbian scholar Adrienne Rich in 1980 to describe how heterosexuality as an institution compels and coerces female sexuality for patriarchal purposes.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Lanier rapes Forsythe during a job interview, which O’Brien recounts in upsetting, unwavering detail.—
Jared Sullivan,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2024
-
Donald treats Ivana with similar contempt, and then rapes her.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Forces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forces. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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