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
Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Nonetheless, Williams’ presence on the field alone forces LSU’s defense to account for him at all times due to his big-play ability.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Each callout forces others to take on extra shifts.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Congress rarely forces itself to demonstrate, item by item, that all five prongs are met.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
The domino effect pushes deliveries out, forces expensive air freight, and overloads suppliers.
—Raj Dhiman, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
But André, who Bonitzer has named after the early surrealist André-Aimé-René Masson, soon confronts our man with a situation that — at least on some distant subconscious level — forces him to re-evaluate his metrics.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
In Running Point, when a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
But an old debt forces him to commit one last break-in at the popular Brasserie Papillon.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Analysts attribute rising electric bills to a combination of forces.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
The numbers may yet increase, with rescue forces still receiving information from family members.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The film begins with marital and financial stressors and exacerbates them with the influence of predatory external forces.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Eventually, all the singers and musicians joined forces on the ground outside, delighting onlookers and tourists alike.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Akheem Mesidor forces, Jakobe Thomas recovered.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
From the very first days of the First World War, the German Empire was looking for someone capable of sparking a revolution in Russia and forcing the country to withdraw from the war with Germany — so that the Germans could focus their forces on fighting the British and the French.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Serbian forces were pushed out, but Belgrade still considers Kosovo a Serbian province.
—Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
On the other hand, statins lower LDL cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver, which then forces the liver to remove more LDL cholesterol from the body.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Nonetheless, Williams’ presence on the field alone forces LSU’s defense to account for him at all times due to his big-play ability.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Each callout forces others to take on extra shifts.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Congress rarely forces itself to demonstrate, item by item, that all five prongs are met.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
The domino effect pushes deliveries out, forces expensive air freight, and overloads suppliers.
—Raj Dhiman, Sourcing Journal, 6 Nov. 2025
But André, who Bonitzer has named after the early surrealist André-Aimé-René Masson, soon confronts our man with a situation that — at least on some distant subconscious level — forces him to re-evaluate his metrics.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
In Running Point, when a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
But an old debt forces him to commit one last break-in at the popular Brasserie Papillon.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
This takes place on April 25, marking the day that Australian and New Zealand forces first went into action in the First World War, during the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Analysts attribute rising electric bills to a combination of forces.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
The numbers may yet increase, with rescue forces still receiving information from family members.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
The film begins with marital and financial stressors and exacerbates them with the influence of predatory external forces.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Eventually, all the singers and musicians joined forces on the ground outside, delighting onlookers and tourists alike.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Akheem Mesidor forces, Jakobe Thomas recovered.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
From the very first days of the First World War, the German Empire was looking for someone capable of sparking a revolution in Russia and forcing the country to withdraw from the war with Germany — so that the Germans could focus their forces on fighting the British and the French.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
Serbian forces were pushed out, but Belgrade still considers Kosovo a Serbian province.
—Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forces
Verb
-
Dutch is a typical Schwarzenegger hero — all rippling muscle and bravery — but with a humane integrity that compels him to keep his team safe.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The hope is that, armed with new technology, that decline of foreign aid serves a rallying call that compels African countries to forge their own paths, free from the constraints of aid dependency and external policy pressures.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Several lawsuits have been filed in state courts arguing that the mid-decade redistricting violates the Missouri constitution.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
If Butler violates any terms, the court could enforce his full 78-year sentence.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Communities, schools, and workforces are all shrinking at an alarming rate.—
Sarah McCammon,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Plus, chatbots don’t have that human touch; people have a certain je ne sais quoi needed to lead workforces that AI can’t replicate.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bain’s 44 total pressures generated entering Saturday according to Pro Football Focus ranks fourth nationally and behind only Texas Tech’s David Bailey (58) among players from power conference schools.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Beyond the impact of tariffs, consumers are coping with cost-of-living pressures and inflation.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Little Rock man who, police say, crashed while fleeing from an Arkansas State Police trooper last week now faces first-degree murder counts in the death of two teenage passengers, authorities said Wednesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Report downed power lines to the police.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Kyiv has persistently targeted various types of sites linked to Moscow's military industry, from fuel depots to refineries funding its war effort to chemical factories grinding out supplies for ammunition.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The essentials – groceries and household supplies – remain the sole bright spots in consumer budgets.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 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
-
At the end of that game, Alma psychically rapes the protagonist, a psychic soldier named Beckett, and becomes pregnant with another child.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Lanier rapes Forsythe during a job interview, which O’Brien recounts in upsetting, unwavering detail.—
Jared Sullivan,
The Atlantic,
17 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Forces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forces. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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