1
as in compelling
having the power to persuade
made a very forceful argument against going to war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
kept asking until I gave a very forceful and blunt "no"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strong
not showing weakness or uncertainty
took a forceful stand on the highly controversial issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others
a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of forceful
But the judge, Clifton Newman, responded with a forceful rebuke of Murdaugh and alluded to the defendant’s addiction to prescription painkillers.
—
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
This gin had a forceful, hot alcohol note that many tasters had difficulty with.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
The helmets, made with unfixed chalk, were visually forceful but materially fragile, holding protection and vulnerability in the same frame.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
Yet Obama was an early and forceful critic of that tendency.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
This gin had a forceful, hot alcohol note that many tasters had difficulty with.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026
The helmets, made with unfixed chalk, were visually forceful but materially fragile, holding protection and vulnerability in the same frame.
—Emilie Hardman, JSTOR Daily, 6 May 2026
Yet Obama was an early and forceful critic of that tendency.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for forceful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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An hour north of New York City, the Hudson Valley has turned into one of the country’s most compelling beer regions with farms, river towns, mountain backdrops, and a concentration of serious breweries that keeps growing.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Gone was the meek servant child, replaced by a confident woman who remained composed during aggressive cross-examination.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The new reality finds those legacy players, with the single exception of Disney, playing defense as tech’s flywheel spins faster, and their pursuit of TV ad dollars becomes even more aggressive.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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The hovercraft tragedy underscores the rapidly changing weather conditions, dangerous waves and strong winds associated with Lake Baikal, reports indicated.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2026
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Beyond keeping bugs away from your guests and food, the zapper also cuts down on the need for bug sprays, which can leave behind strong smells or residue.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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In the new research, when other influential factors were considered, only amitriptyline and nortriptyline remained linked with a higher risk of ADHD.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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This highly influential early 19th century poetry collection seems to sit comfortably among Yoo’s work.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary and one of Labour’s more convincing politicians, was one of several ministers who asked the Prime Minister to set a timetable for his departure.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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The recreations were so convincing that visitors from Tennessee believed the film had shot on location.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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But with emphatic wins in Top-25 matchups with Arizona State, Oregon and Texas A&M, Cal could match up with most teams and had the skill players to blow past them.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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After being approached by Minnesota's Ayo Dosunmu after getting tangled up with McDaniels in the first quarter, Wembanyama would run untouched to the rim for an emphatic windmill dunk.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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My Costa Rican Hammam Experience included a vigorous scrub-down on a marble slab in the steamy hammam that used a Costa Rican coffee bean exfoliator for a local twist, followed by a heavenly massage.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
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Many hostas are more vigorous and show their best colors when given some exposure to sun (such as morning sun with afternoon shade).—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
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Dick Cable was known for his booming, authoritative voice.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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