FORCIBLY Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

forcibly

adverb

as in strongly

in a vigorous and forceful manner the disruptive passenger was forcibly removed from the plane

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 forcibly Palestinian citizens of Israel, descendants of those who remained as the state of Israel was established in 1948 (when a majority of the prewar population was forcibly expelled or fled during the war) now make up about 20% of the population. — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026 Guitarricadelafuente — who co-stars in the film alongside Milo Quifes and Carlos González — plays Sebastián, a young musician (trumpeter) forcibly recruited by Franco’s forces after surviving an attack during the Spanish Civil War. — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2026 The caller reported a man had forcibly entered a nearby home and was physically assaulting its resident, according to a news release from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026 Moore’s candidacy drew controversy as she was forcibly removed from her position as head of the local teachers union in 2015. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026 Police and military personnel forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily detained, beat and threatened opposition members, lawyers, journalists and government critics, the report said. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 Dressed in a long dress, Bottiglierivega was seen forcibly entering the rear door of the victims' unit, breaking the lock and doorframe. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026 In Germany, nighttime riots injured more than 100 police officers and damaged or looted stores; in Lisbon, Portugal, police forcibly cleared a housing protest encampment. — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026 Meanwhile, police in Portugal early Sunday forcibly cleared a tent camp set up in Lisbon by activists protesting against high housing costs. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for forcibly

Adverb

In Beacon Falls, Danbury and Cromwell, developers have strongly signalled their intentions to build but haven’t filed official zoning applications.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026
Brand, who strongly denied wrongdoing, will be sentenced next week.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of strongly

Adverb

The letter warns that any attempt by Alterra to stop paying rent or abandon the premises without resolving its contractual obligations would be vigorously contested.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
In experiments plants that are rigidly staked to prevent their movement or that are grown in pots and turned out of sync with the Sun grow less vigorously and have fewer or smaller leaves.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of vigorously

Adverb

Aston forcefully launched itself into the 21st century with the V12 Vanquish, which debuted in the fall of 2001 as the spitting image of a 1998 concept car.

— Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
Wearing an open white shirt and blazer, Brand was called forward to the dock, said his name and forcefully denied all charges put to him by his barrister Ian Winter.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of forcefully

Adverb

Allowing political control over grantmaking to become more deeply entrenched would make recovery considerably harder.

— Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Just by chance, a guy who does what he is coached to do, continues to work really, really hard and do the right things, the ball somehow finds him.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of hard

Adverb

Roast tofu and sweet potatoes, ruffly kale, a powerfully herby dressing.

— Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
In a powerfully compelling novel that brims with the cadences of the Black South, Jones explores the women’s diverging lives while using them as a lens to observe social injustice in language that is intimate, conversational, and musical.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of powerfully

Adverb

Six women allege offenses dating from 1999 to 2009, and Brand denies the allegations vehemently.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
Yet after the Italian press caught wind of a meeting about a week ago between him and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, the latter vehemently denied Napoli was for sale.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of vehemently

Adverb

The easy chemistry translates into the competition itself, where Levine notes that the four coaches are all fiercely competitive, but without the kind of animosity that can sometimes come with fighting over artists.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
Greg’s colleagues from over the years describe him as fiercely competitive, not just with work projects but also with hobbies like running and weight lifting.

— Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fiercely

Browse Nearby Words

forcible

forcibly

forcing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Forcibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forcibly. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of forcibly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes