forceful

adjective

ˈfȯrs-fəl How to pronounce forceful (audio)
Definition of forcefulnext
1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade made a very forceful argument against going to war

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2
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness kept asking until I gave a very forceful and blunt "no"

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3
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty took a forceful stand on the highly controversial issue

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4
as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears

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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 forceful There is no question that NATO needs to mount a more forceful response to Moscow’s escalation. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 If the Dolphins 2026 first-round pick can do that — be forceful against a future Hall of Famer — in his third NFL start what’s the ceiling for the former University of Alabama standout? — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026 Tehran is preparing a more forceful response if Washington resumes large-scale strikes, Reuters reported. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Unlike Purge, which hit hard right out of the gate with a barrage of forceful metal songs, Decay plays more to Godflesh’s experimental side, and its half a dozen tracks are some of the band’s most sophisticated and emotional songs. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
  1. compelling
  2. aggressive
  3. strong
  4. influential
  5. convincing
  6. emphatic
  7. vigorous
  8. authoritative
Adjective
  • Kendall Jenner and Hunter Schafer, in Valentino and Prada, respectively, wore two of the evening’s most compelling arguments for black and white evening attire.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder started in the realm of absurdist comedy, and with the Holmes project moves into a world of watercooler high crimes and compelling fourth-wall breaking.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of compelling
Adjective
  • While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The acquisition comes after the distributor’s founder and then-CEO, Andrew Karpen, died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 59 in May 2025.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • But zest was one of just two strengths (the other is hope) that had the strongest relationship to mental well-being across countries and age groups.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • However, some safety advocates and Senator Maria Cantwell want a stronger federal review process.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • William Perkins, an influential proponent of witch fever in late sixteenth-century England, notes that any miraculous power a witch or her objects appears to have is merely borrowed from Satan.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The federal government is planning to dramatically shrink its most influential health survey, and some researchers worry that the changes will underestimate how many Americans are disabled.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • The show doesn’t mount a convincing case that there is more to him than that.
    — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Be suspicious of unexpected security alerts A real cybersecurity incident gives scammers an opportunity to send convincing fake breach notifications.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of convincing
Adjective
  • Salma Paralluelo found space down the left flank, whipped in a cross and picked out Navarro for an emphatic finish.
    — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Nafis Ud Doula, director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and a member of the RSC board, is emphatic about the industry’s position.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • The legendary French fashion house was making a second issue of its surprisingly vigorous, thick-stock glossy art magazine.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Brisk walking, light cycling, doubles tennis and household chores such as vacuuming, mopping and mowing the lawn were categorized as moderate activity; vigorous activity included jogging, fast cycling, singles tennis and aerobics.
    — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • This excellent volume contains a series of concise and authoritative essays on key aspects of the Ghetto’s early history, written by leading experts in the field.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The new system will organize types of data that proved difficult to categorize in the past — such as the ways firms make difficult decisions — to make the rankings more authoritative.
    — Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritative

Browse Nearby Words

force field
forceful
forcefully
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Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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