adjective
-
powerful
-
persuasive or effective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forceful
Explanation
Something forceful is strong and firm. A politician's forceful speech is self-assured and energetic, and it makes the audience sit up and take notice. One meaning of forceful is all about physical strength: "The forceful throw carried the football past the goalposts." Another way to be forceful is to be emphatic or vehement: "The child's forceful refusal to go to bed could not be ignored by the sleepy babysitter." Forceful literally means "full of force," and force comes from the Latin fortis, "strong, firm, or steadfast."
Vocabulary lists containing forceful
Stay Strong: Forc and Fort
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
This forceful memoir recounts the Waldrop household’s pilgrimages across America’s Holy Spirit-scorched heartland.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
“The most forceful counter,” he added, may be a greater focus on buybacks.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Prosecutors opened a probe into the killings and the state government promised "an immediate and forceful response," while noting that violence like this had been on the decline.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Mr. Sorey’s band moves from down-home blues to church-service uplift to the sort of energized ritual that characterizes “creative music,” a practice for which Mr. Sorey is now a forceful lodestar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Whitby’s handshake was firm but not forceful, his grip softened by his kidskin gloves.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
