forceful

[ fawrs-fuhl, fohrs- ]

/ ˈfɔrs fəl, ˈfoʊrs- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: forceful / forcefully / forcefulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

full of force; powerful; vigorous; effective: a forceful plea for peace.

acting or driven with force.

OTHER WORDS FOR forceful

1 cogent, telling.

See synonyms for forceful on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of forceful

First recorded in 1565–75; force + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM forceful

force·ful·ly, adverbforce·ful·ness, nounun·force·ful, adjectiveun·force·ful·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH forceful

forceful , forcible

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forceful in a sentence

Every other police department facing an angry crowd will be concerned about being overrun, and overcorrecting in response to that concern may lead to overly forceful, unconstitutional responses.
The Police’s Tepid Response To The Capitol Breach Wasn’t An Aberration|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|January 7, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
If there’s one surprising thing, it was in how forceful the likes of Cotton and other GOP Senate colleagues were in taking the other side — in denouncing the effort and tying it to the violent scenes that we saw Wednesday.
An insurrection sets an ugly stage for 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls|Aaron Blake|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
The country’s approach to the pandemic has been forceful in many ways, not just when it comes to contact tracing technology.
Singapore’s police now have access to contact tracing data|Lindsay Muscato|January 5, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Sanders and Hawley, the surprising bipartisan duo, has made a forceful push for stimulus checks to be included in the next round of economic relief.
Senate approves one-week spending bill to avert midnight shutdown|Mike DeBonis, Jeff Stein, Seung Min Kim|December 11, 2020|Washington Post

A creative and forceful scorer off the dribble, Mitchell’s new contract will theoretically keep him in Utah through at least his age-28 season.
NBA free agency updates: Lakers get tougher while Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell ink max extensions|Ben Golliver|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Christians should have addressed that conflict more forcefully over the holidays.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He should be speaking out forcefully and frequently about the need for calm as the jurors conclude their work.
As Michael Brown Grand Jury Winds Down, Is Ferguson on the Brink of War?|Ron Christie|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A former great urging another man to forcefully keep an up-and-coming female rapper in line?
Who Dat, Who Dat? It’s Snoop Dogg Saying Misogynistic Things to I-G-G-Y|Amy Zimmerman|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You also argue forcefully against the Hitler-as-Machiavelli argument—that he killed Jews for political reasons.
Ron Rosenbaum on Hitler, Hollywood, and Quantifying Evil|William O’Connor|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They refused to pay the Romanian woman, who is six months pregnant, and instead took turns forcefully raping and beating her.
U.S. Soldiers, Accused of Rape in Italy, Hope to Go Free in America|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After frowning over the communication, Colonel Lewis read it aloud to some of his officers and expressed himself very forcefully.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
Disarmed by it, I can not right the wrongBy scolding him, however forcefully.
With the Colors|Everard Jack Appleton
The curtain bellies out, and at the same moment M. Brisson is touched; then the curtain is flung forcefully over the table.
Mysterious Psychic Forces|Camille Flammarion
The desirability of retreat had presented itself forcefully to the others.
Peggy Raymond's Vacation|Harriet L. (Harriet Lummis) Smith
Down the dusty road over West Hill went the twins, Wilbur still forcefully leading.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for forceful

forceful

/ (ˈfɔːsfʊl) /

adjective

powerful

persuasive or effective

Derived forms of forceful

forcefully, adverbforcefulness, noun

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

forceful

OTHER WORDS FOR forceful

Origin of forceful

OTHER WORDS FROM forceful

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH forceful

Words related to forceful

How to use forceful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for forceful

Derived forms of forceful