force-feed

verb

ˈfȯrs-ˌfēd 

force-fed ˈfȯrs-ˌfed  ; force-feeding

transitive verb

1

: to feed (a person or an animal) by forcible administration of food

2

: to force to take in

force-feed students the classics

—also used with a single object

force-feed the classics to students

force-feed students with the classics

Examples of force-feed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, Misty leads a crew to force-feed him through a tube. —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025

Attempts to force-feed Jokic resulted in bad-pass turnovers. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 25 Dec. 2024

When their characters begin fighting, Shauna ultimately bites Melissa’s arm before force-feeding her a piece of it. —Emily Longeretta, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

Price of a delicacy: Physicists are developing a new way of producing foie gras that doesn’t require force-feeding the birds. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

However, the grim force-feeding situation becomes the last straw for Natalie, who seems to be the only Yellowjacket left with any sort of internal moral compass. —Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025

Rich whispered as the boat crew force-fed me pita bread. —Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025

Advertisement When the synthetic compound was force-fed to rats at doses of 1 gram per kilogram of body weight for two years, the animals developed kidney cancer and other forms of renal disease. —Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Beto’s mother, Cecilia, arrived at his bedside and force-fed him drops of juice while the family waited for an ambulance. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for force-feed

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• intercede
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• supersede

Kids Definition

force-feed

verb

ˈfō(ə)rs-ˌfēd,

ˈfȯ(ə)rs-

force-fed

-ˌfed

; force-feeding

1

: to feed (an animal or person) by forcefully giving food

2

: to force to take in

force-feed the classics to students