1
as in to compel
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
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1
as in manpower
a body of persons at work or available for work
the entire force of the shipyard will be needed to get this government order done on time
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2
as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
a cruel tyrant who disbanded the parliament and ruled by force
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3
as in power
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task
got through the college board exams by sheer force of will
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4
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
surely you were influenced by the force of his arguments?
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5
as in impact
the quality of an utterance that provokes interest and produces an effect
expressed the full force of her frustration with her son for his reckless behavior
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6
as in violence
the use of brute strength to cause harm to a person or property
the officer threatened to resort to force if the suspect did not surrender
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7
8
as in supply
the number of individuals or amount of something available at any given time
the great debate during the Cold War was whether the nation's missile force was adequate
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Cite this Entry
“Force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/force. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.
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