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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples 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 This latest acquisition kicks off a period of more forceful activity for the sales outfit, which had been focusing on four to five acquisitions a year since the pandemic. Ben Croll, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025 At the same time, some of those who have been forceful advocates of Israel and critics of U.S. assistance to the Lebanese military have often complained that it has been infiltrated by Hezbollah. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 8 Jan. 2025 McIntosh is equally forceful as the undaunted leader whose kicks toward the surface do not weaken, no matter how long the odds have become. Robert Daniels, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024 An astonishing tale of fighting climate change from one of the most forceful voices in the field. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forceful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
  • Gates offers an incredibly compelling premise, shedding light on the scale of military propaganda in the United States, but in taking on so much, her film ends up not saying enough.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Miami Herald Linda Robertson has written about a variety of compelling subjects during an award-winning career.
    Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that occurs most often in children and teens, Isabella survived.
    Liz McNeil, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
  • With how aggressive Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has been on fourth down, Fangio has to treat third down like second down.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • The top three raters on the site—all from Denmark—logged over 50,000 different beers, evidence of how the site was influential in driving consumers to taste different beers and share them with friends near and far.
    Don Tse, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • But experts have warned that the withdrawal of WHO’s most influential member could harm global health.
    Christian Edwards, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There are three unbeaten teams (UCLA, LSU and Ohio State), but only the Bruins boast a convincing victory over defending champion South Carolina, the lone loss the Gamecocks have taken in the last two seasons.
    Chris Branch, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
  • This real-time portfolio can be more convincing to potential employers than a static list of accomplishments.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • After years of electric vehicles dominating the overall new car buzz (if not sales), hybrids made a strong, emphatic comeback in 2024.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2025
  • For three straight weeks, the Chargers have shared emphatic high fives in their celebratory post-game locker room.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Our commitment includes the vigorous pursuit of both the North Korean actors and those providing them with material support.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The hammam routine involves mixed use of the herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, stimulating Swiss shower, cool mist room, aqua massage vitality pool, and a warm marble belly stone; not to mention a vigorous body scrub followed by a purifying cleanse and 60- or 90-minute massage.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, McGrath and the others are noticing more of a shift away from physical discipline and the tide turning toward authoritative parenting–which McGrath views as a positive development of newer generations opting to base their parenting styles on research rather than tradition.
    Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 15 Jan. 2025
  • In under 20 words, Grisham establishes an authoritative voice, introduces the narrator, and hints at conflict between father and son, sparking curiosity.
    G Kirilloff, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near forceful

Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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