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
McClain, 23, had been forcibly restrained by police, who stopped him in response to a suspicious person complaint as the massage therapist walked home from a convenience store in 2019.
—
Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The 31-year-old alleged stalker reportedly tried to forcibly enter the singer's home.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 2 June 2026
According to police, a suspect approached a student from behind, forcibly stole her cellphone and fled.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 May 2026
In response to both, the United States forcibly exiled all gay men to the moon.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
While in foster care, the daughter was involuntarily hospitalized and forcibly medicated, while the toddler and his brother started bed-wetting and engaging in self-harm.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
The video shows the encounter turned physical as federal agents forcibly pushed back agitators who made contact with the hood of a vehicle trying to leave the facility.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The emergency law, which took effect immediately with a stroke of the governor’s pen, came after Bianco’s office forcibly took custody of over 650,000 ballots last month.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
While his wife and daughter were able to move to Canada, Dong was forcibly returned to China by the Thai authorities, despite appeals from his family and rights groups at the time.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
The 31-year-old alleged stalker reportedly tried to forcibly enter the singer's home.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 2 June 2026
According to police, a suspect approached a student from behind, forcibly stole her cellphone and fled.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 May 2026
In response to both, the United States forcibly exiled all gay men to the moon.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
While in foster care, the daughter was involuntarily hospitalized and forcibly medicated, while the toddler and his brother started bed-wetting and engaging in self-harm.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
The video shows the encounter turned physical as federal agents forcibly pushed back agitators who made contact with the hood of a vehicle trying to leave the facility.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
The emergency law, which took effect immediately with a stroke of the governor’s pen, came after Bianco’s office forcibly took custody of over 650,000 ballots last month.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026
While his wife and daughter were able to move to Canada, Dong was forcibly returned to China by the Thai authorities, despite appeals from his family and rights groups at the time.
—Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forcibly
Adverb
-
At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Unfortunately, there isn’t an aspect of the finale that strongly references the Carolinas setting.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 June 2026
Adverb
-
The idea is to ensure that your grass grows so vigorously that there will be no room for clover.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
-
Cook over medium-high, stirring vigorously with one hand while moving the pan back and forth with the other, until the sauce glossily drapes the noodles, 5 to 7 minutes.—
Emily Weinstein,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
This type of signage became so ubiquitous and so grotesquely huge across the city as businesses advertised and competed for visual attention that they were forcefully phased out by the government in the 2010s and replaced by Korean letters tastefully cut out to be lit from within instead.—
Anton Hur,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
Even 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Adverb
-
Rick is tightly scheduled, punctilious to a fault, endowed with verbal wit that gently but firmly shapes and smooths social interactions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
But what might seem like a fleeting trend is firmly rooted in longheld culture, integrated into people’s routines and wellness practices for centuries.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
Many cities and school districts are trying hard to line up job opportunities for young people.—
Dianna Douglas,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
With his gregarious nature and hard-drinking demeanor, Lobo is an intimidating extraterrestrial mercenary and bounty hunter, but his origin story is brutal, even by those standards.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
In the tale, an old, giant rhea ran so powerfully its steps left imprints in the sky, creating the constellation Choiols — known in the West as the Southern Cross.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
The answer is that dim residential lighting, at intensities typical of a porch light, suppresses mosquito dormancy more powerfully than even urban warming does.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adverb
-
The idea is vehemently opposed by the players union.—
Jordan Fabian,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
His mother even suggested that what he was involved with was a cult — a notion Richards vehemently opposed.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Adverb
-
Erving saw in Brent not only exceptional talent, but a fiercely independent spirit that reflected the future of music.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
8 June 2026
-
Both of us fiercely love our son 100 percent of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forcibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forcibly. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
