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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• forcedly adverb
• forcedness noun
• quasi-forced adjective
• unforced adjective
• unforcedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of forced

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

Example Sentences

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave the south, but there are still tens of thousands who have refused to go.

From BBC

Wall Street private-credit firms face pressure as investors seek money back from loans to shaky sectors, raising fears of forced liquidations.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it was widely seen as being linked to a recent crisis that forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights, the largest disruption in its 20-year history.

From BBC

Uncertainty has forced many deal processes to move at a slower pace in recent weeks, advisers say.

From The Wall Street Journal

While Brussels insists that phasing out coal is key to achieving the EU's climate goals, Rome says it may be forced to use its coal-fired power stations if gas prices continue upwards.

From Barron's

Related Words

• compelled
• contrived
• enforced
• involuntary
• mandatory
• unwilling