adjective
-
powerful
-
persuasive or effective
Other Word Forms
- forcefully adverb
- forcefulness noun
- unforceful adjective
- unforcefully adverb
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
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 5
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Vigorous Vocab: Synonyms for "Strong"
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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.
Broad became one of LA.’s most influential civic leaders, using his multibillion-dollar fortune, political clout and forceful personality to spur advancements in the public sphere, particularly in the arts.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Iranian officials were more forceful in their language, and directly put Saturday’s ceasefire negotiations on the line.
From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026
It then had a forceful run from 18 to 25 where the handle started.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
“If we expect inflation to deviate significantly and persistently from target, the response must be appropriately forceful or persistent,” ECB President Christine Lagarde said in a speech on Wednesday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
All this means that the most fearsome quakes are not necessarily the most forceful, though force obviously counts for a lot.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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.
