I. ˈfȯrs noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * fortia, from Latin fortis strong
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active power
the force s of nature
the motivating force in her life
(2) capitalized — used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale
a Force 10 hurricane
b. : moral or mental strength
c. : capacity to persuade or convince
the force of the argument
2.
a. : military strength
b.
(1) : a body (as of troops or ships) assigned to a military purpose
(2) plural : the whole military strength (as of a nation)
c. : a body of persons or things available for a particular end
a labor force
the missile force
d. : an individual or group having the power of effective action
join force s to prevent violence
a force in politics
e. often capitalized : police force — usually used with the
3. : violence, compulsion, or constraint exerted upon or against a person or thing
4.
a. : an agency or influence that if applied to a free body results chiefly in an acceleration of the body and sometimes in elastic deformation and other effects
b. : any of the natural influences (as electromagnetism, gravity, the strong force, and the weak force) that exist especially between particles and determine the structure of the universe
5. : the quality of conveying impressions intensely in writing or speech
stated the objectives with force
Synonyms: see power
• force·less -ləs adjective
•
- in force
II. transitive verb
( forced ; forc·ing )
Date: 14th century
1. : to do violence to ; especially : rape
2. : to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means
3. : to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity
forced to admit my error
the last minute goal forced overtime
4.
a. : to press, drive, pass, or effect against resistance or inertia
force your way through
b. : to impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably
force unwanted attentions on a coworker
5. : to achieve or win by strength in struggle or violence: as
a. : to win one's way into
force a castle
forced the mountain passes
b. : to break open or through
force a lock
6.
a. : to raise or accelerate to the utmost
forcing the pace
b. : to produce only with unnatural or unwilling effort
forced a smile
c. : to wrench, strain, or use (language) with marked unnaturalness and lack of ease
7.
a. : to hasten the rate of progress or growth of
b. : to bring (as plants) to maturity out of the normal season
forcing lilies for Easter
8. : to induce (as a particular bid or play by another player) in a card game by some conventional act, play, bid, or response
9.
a. : to cause (a runner in baseball) to be put out on a force-out
b. : to cause (a run) to be scored in baseball by giving a base on balls when the bases are full
• forc·er noun
•
- force one's hand
Synonyms:
force , compel , coerce , constrain , oblige mean to make someone or something yield. force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress
forced to flee for their lives
compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force
compelled to admit my mistake
coerce suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual or threatened violence or pressure
coerced into signing over the rights
constrain suggests the effect of a force or circumstance that limits freedom of action or choice
constrained by conscience
oblige implies the constraint of necessity, law, or duty
felt obliged to go