forced

adjective

ˈfȯrst 

1

: compelled by force or necessity : involuntary

a forced landing

2

: done or produced with effort, exertion, or pressure

a forced laugh

forcedly

ˈfȯr-səd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• compulsory
• imperative
• incumbent
• involuntary
• mandatory
• necessary
• nonelective
• obligatory
• peremptory
• required

Examples of forced in a Sentence

forced payment of membership dues

wasn't thrilled with the suggestion and so responded with a forced smile

Recent Examples on the Web

When downturns hit, too much leverage turns strong companies into forced sellers. —Iese Business School, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025

Christine Edwards is also charged with a conspiracy to commit forced labor. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025

Vita's Ukrainian mother (my grandmother) survived as an orphan for two years under German occupation and barely evaded being carted off to Germany to work as a forced laborer. —Sasha Vasilyuk, Time, 8 May 2025

Due to the energy expended during a forced bloom, most bulbs will not recover enough to ever bloom again. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing forced

• forced labor
• forced perspective

Rhymes for forced

• divorced
• endorsed
• enforced
• indorsed
• outsourced
• unforced
• coursed
• gorst
• horsed
• horst
• sourced
• reenforced

Kids Definition

forced

adjective

ˈfō(ə)rst 

ˈfȯ(ə)rst

1

: caused or brought about by force or necessity : involuntary

made a forced landing

2

: done or produced with effort

a forced laugh