forceful

adjective

ˈfȯrs-fəl How to pronounce forceful (audio)
Definition of forcefulnext
1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade made a very forceful argument against going to war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness kept asking until I gave a very forceful and blunt "no"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty took a forceful stand on the highly controversial issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 forceful In response to inewsource in April, Martinez took a more forceful stance in favor of keeping the agreements. — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026 What could be a more forceful exhibition of confidence than that? — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026 At high levels of perfume oil concentration, though, getting many forceful materials to sit together cleanly is what takes expertise and time. — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2026 This unified and forceful opposition suggests FIFA President Gianni Infantino significantly miscalculated the sentiment. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
  1. compelling
  2. aggressive
  3. strong
  4. influential
  5. convincing
  6. emphatic
  7. vigorous
  8. authoritative
Adjective
  • How widespread those changes will be is a compelling question.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This involves understanding and speaking the client's language, translating complex technology into tangible business outcomes, and delivering compelling presentations.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of compelling
Adjective
  • Cramer also pointed to Abercrombie's aggressive share repurchases as another boost to earnings per share.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, being aggressive in what was a must-win series finale against the Washington Nationals, chose to go to his bullpen early.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • Davis delivered a strong preseason, but he is now likely headed to a redshirt rookie season unless injuries strike at tackle.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There’s no denying that the fall 2026 runways made a strong case for color; even the street style scene is on board, slipping into colorful shoes and sporting handbags in a variety of vibrant shades—baby pink, chartreuse, and cobalt.
    — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Iran and Oman have already reached an agreement on their respective shares of the vital economic artery, controversially including revenues associated with its administration, the influential military group told the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.
    — Mike Sheen,Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has become one of the most influential, and contentious, private sector figures in Ukraine’s war effort.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • Critics of Modi’s prudent management of Washington have not come up with a convincing alternative strategy for how India should handle the growing power imbalance with China.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Sturdivant has been one of the Packers’ training camp standouts, making a convincing case for his inclusion on the 53-man roster.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of convincing
Adjective
  • Judge William Sullivan gave an emphatic instruction to jurors to dismiss Heilbrun's testimony regarding Clancy's Catholic upbringing.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Eating it inspires an appreciation for the seamless integration of Mexican and Middle Eastern influences, melding to a state of emphatic brilliance in each bite.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphatic
Adjective
  • Puppies should not engage in vigorous tug-of-war games because too much tugging can create jaw or bite problems.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Second, legislation should promote vigorous competition among teams and conferences, not preserve the exclusive club of the current Power Four membership.
    — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • Because these procedures can be incredibly complex, each chamber of Congress has a parliamentarian who provides authoritative, objective, and nonpartisan guidance on how rules and precedents should be interpreted and applied.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Their strategic advantage lies in leveraging local expertise and trusted, authoritative content directly within AI interfaces.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritative

Browse Nearby Words

force field
forceful
forcefully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All