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Synonyms

forced

American  
[fawrst, fohrst] / fɔrst, foʊrst /

adjective

  1. enforced or compulsory.

    forced labor.

  2. strained, unnatural, or affected.

    a forced smile.

  3. subjected to force.

  4. required by circumstances; emergency.

    a forced landing of an airplane.
forced British  
/ fɔːst, ˈfɔːsɪdlɪ /

adjective

  1. done because of force; compulsory

    forced labour

  2. false or unnatural

    a forced smile

  3. due to an emergency or necessity

    a forced landing

  4. physics caused by an external agency

    a forced vibration

    a forced draught
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of forced

First recorded in 1540–50; force + -ed 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Forced to restructure the film and mix existing footage with reshot scenes, all of those sequences of Michael alongside children now feel eerie and upsetting, even if the film doesn’t touch on the allegations.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

Forced to manufacture shots, the hosts took too many risks, while England's fielders snapped up chances to back up the bowlers' work.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Forced onto the defensive, the companies have attempted to convey that they are making a good faith effort to comply with Australia's impending ban despite their disagreement with it.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025

Forced selling intensified, with over $500 million in leveraged BTC longs liquidated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Forced to face her, forced to talk, I felt my gumption rising.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.