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force
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- pronunciation:
- fors
- parts of speech:
- noun, transitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
active power, energy, or physical strength.
The force of the hurricane knocked down the trees.- synonyms:
- energy, power, strength, vigor
- similar words:
- authority, brawn, effort, heat, might, muscle, potency, puissance, stress, vim, vitality
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| definition 2: |
the use of such power, energy, or strength.
The enemy took the castle by force.- synonyms:
- effort
- similar words:
- action, coercion, compulsion, duress, energy, enforcement, power, violence
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| definition 3: |
someone or something with the capacity to influence or cause change.
The force of logic eventually convinced the committee.A group of parents was the main force behind the change in the town's speed limit.She believed that, as a politician, she could be a force for good.- synonyms:
- potency, power
- similar words:
- agency, agent, influence, instrumentality, mover, stimulus, strength
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| definition 4: |
in law, illegal violence, as against a person.
Accidental death was ruled out, as use of force on the victim was apparent.- synonyms:
- violence
- similar words:
- assault
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| 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
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| definition 6: |
in physics, an influence on the shape, motion, or other characteristics of a body or system.
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| definition 7: |
(often pl.) military troops; army.
The enemy has overpowered our forces in the area.- synonyms:
- armed forces, army, military, troops
- similar words:
- air force, Marines, Navy, power
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| definition 8: |
effective intensity, as of the mind.
- synonyms:
- effectiveness, potency, power, strength, vitality
- similar words:
- ability, action, caliber, efficacy, energy, enthusiasm
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| related words: |
arm, bite, brunt, carry, crowd, dynamic, effect, emphasis, expression, hand, influence, kick, law, magnetism, main, momentum, nature, output, presence, pressure, pry, pull, thrust, wind |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
forces, forcing, forced |
| definition 1: |
to use strength or coercion in order to compel.
The interrogators forced him to tell the truth.- synonyms:
- coerce, compel, constrain, make, pressure
- similar words:
- clamor, impel, impose, induce, oblige, press, push
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| definition 2: |
to cause to be a certain way by overcoming with power or strength.
The door was locked, so the firefighters had to force it open. |
| definition 3: |
to cause to do something despite resistance or hesitation.
The accident forced her to rely on her family for help.Being turned down for promotion forced him to make a difficult decision.- synonyms:
- compel, constrain, oblige
- similar words:
- bind, bore, drive, elbow, necessitate, press, pressure, propel, push
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| definition 4: |
to bring about (something) despite there being reluctance or unwillingness.
The scandal forced the congressman's resignation from office.Complaints from customers forced the removal of the product from the market. |
| definition 5: |
to obtain through force.
His captors forced a confession from him.- synonyms:
- coerce, exact, extort
- similar words:
- draw, extract, pry, railroad, rout, wrench, wrest
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| definition 6: |
to tax or strain.
Don't force the situation.- synonyms:
- strain, tax
- similar words:
- overburden, overload
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| related words: |
browbeat, command, constrain, crowd, exact, foist, hale, hammer, jam, make, open, pick, pin down, poke, ride, run, thrust, train, wedge |
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| derivation: |
forced (adj.) |
Force comes from fortis, a Latin word that means "strong." This Latin word is also the source of our words fort and fortify.
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