force 1 of 2

verb

Definition of forcenext
1
as in to compel
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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to violate
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

force

2 of 2

noun

ˈfȯrs How to pronounce force (audio)
1
as in manpower
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 pressure
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 power
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task got through the college board exams by sheer force of will

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior

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6
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property the officer threatened to resort to force if the suspect did not surrender

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in police
a body of officers of the law the police detective retired after 23 years on the force

Synonyms & Similar Words
8
as in supply
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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word force different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of force are coerce, compel, constrain, and oblige. While all these words mean "to make someone or something yield," force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress.

forced to flee for their lives

In what contexts can coerce take the place of force?

The meanings of coerce and force largely overlap; however, coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure.

coerced into signing over the rights

When would compel be a good substitute for force?

While in some cases nearly identical to force, compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

compelled to admit my mistake

When is it sensible to use constrain instead of force?

While the synonyms constrain and force are close in meaning, constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice.

constrained by conscience

When could oblige be used to replace force?

The words oblige and force are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty.

felt obliged to go

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 force
Verb
Baylor also excels in forcing mistakes, as the Bears rank second in the Big 12 in opponent penalties per game and have forced 10 turnovers this season. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 For many companies, private ownership can now provide scale capital without forcing management into the public-company operating model. — Jeff Jacobs, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
An array of Yemeni government forces and southern separatists struggled to push the Houthis back, and the battle lines moved little before a 2022 ceasefire. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The gang eventually released its hostages but dug into the tiny nearby hamlet of Bois D’Avril, into which Prince’s foreign ex-special forces flew in September, engaging them in an hours-long firefight. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for force
Recent Examples of Synonyms for force
  1. compel
  2. violate
  3. manpower
  4. pressure
  5. power
  6. effectiveness
  7. impact
  8. violence
Verb
  • From the classic ‘Whodunit’ style to thrilling neonoirs, mystery novels have compelled readers to solve cases alongside detectives like Hercule Poirot.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The landscape was stunning and the fact that humans could construct such feats of engineering by hand further compelled us to at least endure a visit.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of compel
Verb
  • California is among the states that successfully sued, in part by arguing that turning over the data would violate state privacy laws.
    — SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • As noted recently by Deadline, other Chinese AI models continue to plunder IP, including MiniMax H3, which generated videos that violated studio brand safety standards 55% of the time when an image was used in a prompt.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of violate
Noun
  • This could reduce the time and manpower required to search large areas manually, particularly as Chinese military aircraft and vessels operate more frequently around Taiwan.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • If Memphis isn't one of them, the city will have to try to maintain its momentum on public safety without extra manpower.
    — Patrik Jonsson, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of manpower
Noun
  • In retrospect, many Democrats now think that the candidates in 2020 were too willing to bow to pressure with cameras rolling.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Courtney is in school to become a nurse practitioner, which added even more pressure to a home-and-work-life balance.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pressure
Noun
  • Its boosted flat-six engine receives a power bump, and rear-axle steering is now standard, as are larger brakes with six-piston calipers up front.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Europe is now home to some of the most promising companies building clean power, while remaining an expensive place to buy it.
    — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • The effectiveness of the approach will depend on how well the systems perform under operational conditions and against evolving electronic warfare threats.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
  • That recommendation went against the scientific conclusion of FDA’s staff scientists, who reiterated that none of the peptides had been studied enough to establish their safety and effectiveness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Sullivan denied that the law would cut Medicaid for Alaskans, saying the Affordable Care Act had a greater impact and raised insurance premiums in the state drastically.
    — Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of impact
Noun
  • Garcia and other commissioners complained Miami-Dade was cashing in on a game that glorifies street violence and crime in Miami.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
  • More than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody by Monday evening, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, after violence that included the burning of a historic town hall in Limoges, a city in central France.
    — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of violence

Phrases Containing force

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forborne
force
forced
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Cite this Entry

“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on force

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about force

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