1
as in coercing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
the public outcry from the scandal forced the mayor to resign road construction forced them to take an alternate route
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in violating
to engage in sexual activity and especially intercourse with a person unwilling or unable to give consent
was accused of forcing a woman
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of forcing
In August 2024, students stormed her official residence, smashing walls and looting its contents, forcing her to flee into neighboring India and exile.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
In 2022, gilt markets were shaken when then-Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a swathe of unfunded tax cuts — forcing an intervention from the Bank of England and leading to Truss’ resignation after just 44 days into the job.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Deadline can reveal the first trailer for the radical love story revolving around Suzanne and undocumented migrant Osmane, whose relationship provokes a wave of anger and indignation all around them, forcing them to resist.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
When later asked about the keys to forcing timing turnovers, Harmon said there are techniques and tricks of the trade that the Longhorns practice.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Khanna, who alongside Massie spearheaded the legislation forcing the Justice Department to release records from the Epstein investigation, said that even the materials shown to lawmakers on Monday appeared to carry over the same redactions found in the public releases.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Rodríguez is the closest of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects after starting last season at High-A, forcing his way to Double-A, and earning a brief promotion to Triple-A for his last start of the year.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Similarly, many public schools in Chicago, and across Illinois, are facing low enrollment and financial strain forcing families to look elsewhere for their education.
—Froylan Jimenez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
All cranes and equipment are shut down, forcing the suspension of cargo delivery operations.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
In 2022, gilt markets were shaken when then-Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a swathe of unfunded tax cuts — forcing an intervention from the Bank of England and leading to Truss’ resignation after just 44 days into the job.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
Deadline can reveal the first trailer for the radical love story revolving around Suzanne and undocumented migrant Osmane, whose relationship provokes a wave of anger and indignation all around them, forcing them to resist.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
When later asked about the keys to forcing timing turnovers, Harmon said there are techniques and tricks of the trade that the Longhorns practice.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Khanna, who alongside Massie spearheaded the legislation forcing the Justice Department to release records from the Epstein investigation, said that even the materials shown to lawmakers on Monday appeared to carry over the same redactions found in the public releases.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
Rodríguez is the closest of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects after starting last season at High-A, forcing his way to Double-A, and earning a brief promotion to Triple-A for his last start of the year.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Similarly, many public schools in Chicago, and across Illinois, are facing low enrollment and financial strain forcing families to look elsewhere for their education.
—Froylan Jimenez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
All cranes and equipment are shut down, forcing the suspension of cargo delivery operations.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forcing
Verb
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Guevara and two colleagues, then-detectives Michael Mason and Ernest Halvorson, then orchestrated a frame-up by coercing one witness to identify Rios by beating him with a phone book and flashlight, and another by threatening to charge him with obstruction, according to the plaintiffs’ allegations.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
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However, this kind of rethinking of coverage is not about coercing people to accept worse care in exchange for money.—
Jared Rhoads,
STAT,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After Conley admitted to violating parole in federal court on Monday, Hall revoked his supervised release and sentenced him to 21 months in or with no supervised release to follow.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
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Wiener is also pushing new legislation — called the No Kings Act — that would allow people in California to sue federal agents for violating their rights.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown was hosting a roundtable featuring seven Ohioans sharing stories about the financial pain that bloated health-care costs had inflicted on their families, compelling them to scale back their medical care.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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The contempt proceedings are an initial step toward a criminal prosecution by the Department of Justice that, if successful, could send the Clintons to prison in a dispute over compelling them to testify before the House Oversight Committee.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In August that year, Singh was sentenced to 20 years in prison – two consecutive 10-year terms – for raping two of his followers in a case dating back to 1999.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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As part of a sweetheart deal his lawyers negotiated with federal prosecutors in South Florida, Epstein was able to walk free despite the fact that he was accused of raping and molested nearly three dozen girls.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The unions argue that carrying out permanent layoffs during a funding lapse violates the Antideficiency Act, which bars agencies from obligating funds without congressional authorization, and exceeds executive authority under the Administrative Procedure Act.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
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This document, signed by a sponsor, is a legally enforceable contract obligating the sponsor to support the immigrant and prevent them from relying on public aid.—
Daniel Shoer Roth,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One rider was banned for a year on May 14, 2025 for assaulting a security officer and was banned again for a year just two days later for assaulting a CATS contractor on the Blue Line platform, records obtained by the Observer show.—
Amber Gaudet
Updated February 5,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
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Investigators said detectives with the Daytona Beach Police Department later found two video clips on Melady’s cellphone allegedly showing him assaulting the woman inside the ambulance.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Black has sometimes driven for miles to a particular cemetery only to find a funeral under way, obliging him to leave empty-handed.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
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The article is the key mutual defense clause, obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Wasserman’s music artists were largely responsible for pressuring him to step away, the actor-heavy Brillstein Entertainment Partners would inevitably have come under scrutiny.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Washington is pressuring the island to commit more to its own defense.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Forcing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forcing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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