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force

pronunciation:
fors
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb
features:
Word History, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: active power, energy, or physical strength.
synonyms:
energy, power, strength, vigor
similar words:
authority, brawn, effort, heat, might, muscle, potency, puissance, stress, vim, vitality
definition 2: the use of such power, energy, or strength.
synonyms:
effort
similar words:
action, authority, coercion, compulsion, duress, energy, enforcement, power, violence
definition 3: someone or something with the capacity to influence or cause change.
the force of logic
synonyms:
potency, power
similar words:
agency, agent, influence, instrumentality, mover, stimulus, strength
definition 4: in law, illegal violence, as against a person.
synonyms:
violence
similar words:
assault
definition 5: a group of people joined by a common goal or activity.
the labor forcethe police force
similar words:
army, association, body, corps, gang, group, legion, pool, troop
definition 6: in physics, an influence on the shape, motion, or other characteristics of a body or system.
definition 7: (often pl.) military troops; army.
synonyms:
armed forces, army, military, troops
similar words:
air force, Marines, Navy, power
definition 8: effective intensity, as of the mind.
synonyms:
effectiveness, potency, power, strength, vitality
similar words:
ability, action, caliber, efficacy, energy, enthusiasm
 
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: forced, forces, forcing
definition 1: to use strength or coercion in order to compel.
We forced him to tell the truth.
synonyms:
coerce, compel, constrain, make, pressure
similar words:
clamor, impel, impose, induce, oblige, press, push
definition 2: to affect despite resistance.
Force the lock.I was forced to rely on him.
synonyms:
compel, constrain, oblige
similar words:
bind, bore, drive, elbow, necessitate, press, pressure, propel, push
definition 3: to obtain through force.
They forced a confession.
synonyms:
coerce, exact, extort
similar words:
draw, extract, pry, railroad, rout, wrench, wrest
definition 4: to tax or strain.
Don't force the situation.
synonyms:
strain, tax
similar words:
overburden, overload
derivation: forced (adj.)
Word History
Force comes from fortis, a Latin word that means "strong." This Latin word is also the source of our words fort and fortify.
Word Explorer
See
  energy, measurement, physics, power