1
as in coercing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violating
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was accused of forcing a woman
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Recent Examples of forcing
Things quickly changed, however, as Orlando’s defense stopped forcing turnovers and its offense came to a halt.
—
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The staff union picketed outside the SAG-AFTRA building, where those negotiations were held for the first two weeks, blocking entrances to the parking garage and forcing negotiators to cross a picket line to get inside.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Facing a crisis in critical thinking skills, some are reviving oral exams, forcing students to defend their assignments to instructors in real time.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The town’s treatment plant can produce about 250,000 gallons a day and, Kotcon says, ran dry during a recent drought, forcing farmers to rely on the local fire department to truck in water to keep their cattle alive.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Here's why Seemingly unaware of their surroundings, these shoppers cruise along four and five abreast, forcing everyone else to squeeze around them.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Rodríguez quickly climbed the Yankees’ minor league ladder in 2025, starting at High-A, forcing his way to Double-A, and earning a brief promotion to Triple-A for his last starts of the year.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
But Rounds said residents stressed the need for additional spaces on the property to avoid exacerbating the community’s parking shortage by forcing residents and staff to park on local streets.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to X Monday evening, accusing Trump of forcing Iran to the negotiating table.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
The staff union picketed outside the SAG-AFTRA building, where those negotiations were held for the first two weeks, blocking entrances to the parking garage and forcing negotiators to cross a picket line to get inside.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Facing a crisis in critical thinking skills, some are reviving oral exams, forcing students to defend their assignments to instructors in real time.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The town’s treatment plant can produce about 250,000 gallons a day and, Kotcon says, ran dry during a recent drought, forcing farmers to rely on the local fire department to truck in water to keep their cattle alive.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Here's why Seemingly unaware of their surroundings, these shoppers cruise along four and five abreast, forcing everyone else to squeeze around them.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Rodríguez quickly climbed the Yankees’ minor league ladder in 2025, starting at High-A, forcing his way to Double-A, and earning a brief promotion to Triple-A for his last starts of the year.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
But Rounds said residents stressed the need for additional spaces on the property to avoid exacerbating the community’s parking shortage by forcing residents and staff to park on local streets.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took to X Monday evening, accusing Trump of forcing Iran to the negotiating table.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forcing
Verb
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Prior to his 2011 conviction, Jeffs was charged and convicted of being an accomplice to rape in September 2007 after coercing a 14-year-old to marry her 19-year-old cousin, though the ruling was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over faulty jury instructions, according to CBS News.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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Indonesia responded the following day by coercing the UDT and APODETI, among others, into issuing and signing the Balibo Declaration, which proclaimed the integration of East Timor into Indonesia.—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In their first public statement made outside the courtroom since Kohberger's arrest in December 2022, Kohberger's lawyers have accused a former defense expert, criminologist Brent Turvey, of violating a confidentiality agreement by speaking about the case.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Citizens for Positive Growth & Preservation since 2015 has filed three lawsuits against the city accusing Sacramento officials of violating CEQA.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On March 17, the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Bondi, compelling her to sit for a deposition about the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files on April 14.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages.—
Elliott Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Weinstein's rape retrial details This case stems from the 2020 trial, where he was convicted of raping Mann and forcing oral sex on another woman.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Weinstein was also convicted of raping an Italian model at a trial in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years.—
Karla Cote,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The unions argue that carrying out permanent layoffs during a funding lapse violates the Antideficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without congressional authorization, and exceeds executive authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
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This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.—
Daniel Shoer Roth,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Adon Abel pleaded guilty in October 2024 to assaulting two police officers with a deadly weapon and attacking another person when he was stationed in Coronado, near San Diego, according to California court records.—
John Hanna,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Aubrey police previously arrested Miller on March 18 after he was accused of assaulting the same woman at the home on Thoroughbred Drive.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In civil aerospace, for example, Rolls is benefiting as manufacturers Airbus and Boeing struggle to deliver new aircraft at the pace the market requires — obliging airlines to keep flying old planes (and their engines) for longer.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2026
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Black has sometimes driven for miles to a particular cemetery only to find a funeral under way, obliging him to leave empty-handed.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whenever Kucherov gets the puck, usually on the half wall on the right side of the power play, the Canadiens have a forward running at him immediately, pressuring him and forcing him to make a quick decision with the puck.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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If the Giants field a defense with Burns, Thibodeaux, Carter and Reese in 2026, one source noted, the Giants’ coordinator Wilson might actually be able to rush four and play coverage on the back end rather than pressuring relentlessly.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forcing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forcing. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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