forced

[ fawrst, fohrst ]

/ fɔrst, foʊrst /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forced ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

enforced or compulsory: forced labor.

strained, unnatural, or affected: a forced smile.

subjected to force.

required by circumstances; emergency: a forced landing of an airplane.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of forced

First recorded in 1540–50; force + -ed²

Related forms

forc·ed·ly

[fawr-sid-lee, fohr-] /ˈfɔr sɪd li, ˈfoʊr-/, adverbforc·ed·ness, nounqua·si-forced, adjectiveun·forced, adjective

un·forc·ed·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unforced

That complexity includes more encounters with Max that lead to a lovely, unforced ending.
Jenny Slate’s Earnest and Funny Abortion Film ‘Obvious Child’|Caryn James|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Scott made the unforced “error” of endorsing the Medicaid expansion for about 20 minutes last year.
States Edge Closer to Medicaid Expansion: Who’ll Go First?|Michael Tomasky|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There has always had to be an unforced, unforceable motion of the heart to go with the visible, social stuff.
Francis Spufford on How Atheists Put Religion Through All the Wrong Tests|Francis Spufford|October 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Williams never faced a break point and committed just eight unforced errors in her first-round match.
The Battle of the Sexes Is Back: Serena vs. the Men|Kevin Fixler|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST

He lacked basic political skills, and his unforced errors and muddled messaging unnecessarily antagonized conservatives.
Jon Huntsman Holds His Ground as Republicans Come Around to His Views|David Catanese|April 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
All profitable literature work in the secondary grades must be based upon the unforced attention and activity of the student.
Modern Prose And Poetry; For Secondary Schools|Various
Poetry and religious feeling will be the unforced flowers of life.
Reconstruction in Philosophy|John Dewey
The writer's hints of the character of what is to come must be unforced and natural, but they must be effective.
The Technique of Fiction Writing|Robert Saunders Dowst
The interpretation of prophecy should generally be in the literal, natural and unforced meaning of the words.
The Bible Book by Book|Josiah Blake Tidwell
No poet was ever warmed by a more genuine or unforced inspiration.
The Bay State Monthly, Vol. II, No. 6, March, 1885|Various

British Dictionary definitions for unforced

unforced

/ (ʌnˈfɔːst) /

adjective

not forced or having been forcedunforced errors

forced

/ (fɔːst) /

adjective

done because of force; compulsoryforced labour

false or unnaturala forced smile

due to an emergency or necessitya forced landing

physics caused by an external agencya forced vibration; a forced draught

Derived Formsforcedly (ˈfɔːsɪdlɪ), adverbforcedness, 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

Word Origin and History for unforced

forced

adj.

"not spontaneous or voluntary," 1570s, past participle adjective from force (v.). The flier's forced landing attested by 1917.