forced 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfȯrst How to pronounce forced (audio)
Definition of forcednext
1
as in required
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law forced payment of membership dues

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

forced

2 of 2

verb

past tense of force
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

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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
Adjective
Hanoi has rejected the USTR’s findings as inaccurate, pointing to its strict anti-forced-labor policies and compliance with International Labour Organization rules. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 27 July 2026 Some jokes feel forced, as if added after the fact to try to lighten the mood. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 July 2026
Verb
As forests become increasingly fragmented and wildlife is forced into closer contact with people, livestock and domestic animals, opportunities for cross-species interactions are changing rapidly. — Cyril Grueter, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026 The fire has also forced evacuations at Spokane’s veterans’ hospital, water reclamation facility and waste-to-energy plant, city officials said. — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forced
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forced
  1. required
  2. strained
  3. unwilling
  4. compelled
  5. violated
  6. compulsory
  7. mock
  8. coerced
Adjective
  • What didn’t pan out nearly so well was all the required documentation.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The coalition's suit claims that Watson has not completed the required historical significance report, which could allow a two-year moratorium on potentially tearing down the building to expire in March 2027.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of required
Adjective
  • As her condition advances, the story folds in her strained bonds with her daughter, played by Wen Qi, and her father, played by Fifth Generation filmmaker Tian Zhuangzhuang.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, strained yogurt remained mainly a homemade food in immigrant households until 1998, when FAGE began selling strained yogurt imported from Greece.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • The United States appears unwilling to accept any conditions that could impede transit.
    — , CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But the public’s willingness to defend it cannot be unlimited if universities appear unwilling to confront their own problems.
    — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unwilling
Verb
  • No law required it, no lawsuit compelled it, and the commission had not even reported.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Anna is a complicated character dealing with a mysterious trauma that has compelled the career change to become a ranger.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of compelled
Verb
  • The bill would give the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission the power to fine influencers and committees if they are found to have violated the law, allowing the commission to bypass the court process.
    — Sophie Austin, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Religious speakers allege their First Amendment rights were violated when law enforcement intercepted their public expression of beliefs.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of violated
Adjective
  • Voting is optional in New Zealand but enrollment for those eligible and living in the country is compulsory, with failure to do so punishable by a fine of 100 New Zealand dollars ($59).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • While vessel inspections are not compulsory, member states can request a secondary inspection of a vessel in line with specified criteria.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of compulsory
Adjective
  • For the movie's California premiere, the star, who is pregnant with her third child, looked radiant in a baby-blue mock-neck top featuring a mid-drift hem that perfectly framed her growing baby bump.
    — Morgan Evans, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Juice a Mock Scrape Where legally permitted, juicing a scrape or creating a mock scrape can influence deer, too.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of mock
Verb
  • Jawad Boulos, who was Sarsour's lawyer when he was charged in Israel decades ago, testified that Sarsour was tortured in Israeli custody and coerced into making confessions.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Ripley, Tinkler Mendez added, didn’t appear to be coerced and remained cooperative hours into questioning.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of coerced

Browse Nearby Words

force
forced
force-fed
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Cite this Entry

“Forced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forced. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of forced for Spanish Speakers

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