unforced

adjective

un·​forced ˌən-ˈfȯrst How to pronounce unforced (audio)
Synonyms of unforcednext
: not forced: such as
a
: done or produced naturally or with minimal effort
a genuine, unforced smile
His writing has a natural, unforced style.
b
: caused by one's own poor play, performance, etc.
an unforced error in tennis

Synonyms of unforced

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Examples of unforced in a Sentence

the participation of the people on the project must be unforced, or it really isn't a volunteer effort
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But the timing of the latest duties, occurring little more than two months before the midterm elections, has some Republicans viewing the trade spat as an unforced error that could turn off voters in the states most reliant on Canadian trade. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026 But other causes, including Trump‘s 2025 tax cuts and his immigration curbs, were own unforced fiscal errors. — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 This break remains an unforced error, a decision made by stakeholders with little right to their stake. — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Sinner produced 58 winners to Zverev’s 49 and had only 25 unforced errors to Zverev’s 45. — Andrew Dampf, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unforced

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unforced was in 1605

Rhymes for unforced

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Browse Nearby Words

unfooted
unforced
unforced error
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Cite this Entry

“Unforced.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforced. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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