1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
forced payment of membership dues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
wasn't thrilled with the suggestion and so responded with a forced smile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unwilling
not made or done willingly or by choice
participation in the program was forced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in compelled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violated
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
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 forced
Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The acronym is so reverse-engineered and forced.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
But another part of innovation, namely the spontaneous ideas that arise from creative moments and interactions, cannot be programmed or forced.
—Iese Business School, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forced
Adjective
As for the enslavement of my African ancestors, who literally built the economic infrastructure of America with forced, free labor, from 1619 to 1865—246 years—this section of the American journey was reduced to mere paragraphs.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The acronym is so reverse-engineered and forced.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
The defense forced the biggest three-and-out of the game with the Bills trailing by two points with under two minutes remaining.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
But another part of innovation, namely the spontaneous ideas that arise from creative moments and interactions, cannot be programmed or forced.
—Iese Business School, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for forced
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forced
Adjective
-
Critically, this approach achieves the required resolution without the enormous deployment complexity of a 20-meter circular primary or the operational overhead of a starshade.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Though coverage for Wegovy (semaglutide) is generally better than for Zepbound this year, 88% of people getting Wegovy through their insurer still face hurdles, including prior authorization and required protocols in which cheaper treatments must be tried first prior to gaining access.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Though the former couple remained close in the years after their separation, their relationship allegedly became strained when Simon stopped paying for their children’s school and medical fees following a change on his tax return.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In contrast to Bella’s strained relationship with Coverley, her bond with her father was effortless.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Investors may be unwilling to pay a higher multiple for UTHR, especially amid rising competitive pressures.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
But wooing Western partners would likely involve some compromises that these dictators are probably unwilling to make.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As for me, whatever posturing impulse had compelled my attendance at the 10-year had dimmed considerably.—
Jordan Michelman,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
-
During a talk at the Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club luncheon, Yurachek laid out the reasons that have compelled UA officials to have the contract with War Memorial come to an end with no games on the horizon.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, a Minnesota court struck down the binary trigger ban, arguing that the legislature violated the state constitution’s single-subject clause by burying the ban inside a sprawling spending bill.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
-
And Congress is unlikely to grant him new tariff powers after the courts just ruled that doing so unilaterally violated the separation of powers.—
Brett Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The audience demographics at these two SoCal shows was certainly interesting… a mixture of aspirational and actual Englishness, united in a tempory new world order marked by seemingly compulsory bucket hats.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The plan comes a decade after the government suspended compulsory duty and includes the possibility of reintroducing conscription if recruitment targets are not met, according to Reuters.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The conversations, of course, were mock for journalistic purposes.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The piping adds an athletic flair to the mock-neck sweater and sweatpant set, and small slits on the front of the hems add extra interest.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Anyone with a relevant lead will connect the dots without feeling coerced.—
John Palinkas,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Abusers and traffickers are exploiting this lack of oversight—leaving women coerced, deceived, and sometimes poisoned.—
Christa Brown,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forced. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share