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Showing results for forced. Search instead for Efforced.
Synonyms

forced

American  
[fawrst, fohrst] / fɔrst, foʊrst /

adjective

  1. enforced or compulsory.

    forced labor.

  2. strained, unnatural, or affected.

    a forced smile.

  3. subjected to force.

  4. required by circumstances; emergency.

    a forced landing of an airplane.
forced British  
/ fɔːst, ˈfɔːsɪdlɪ /

adjective

  1. done because of force; compulsory

    forced labour

  2. false or unnatural

    a forced smile

  3. due to an emergency or necessity

    a forced landing

  4. physics caused by an external agency

    a forced vibration

    a forced draught
"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

Other Word Forms

  • forcedly adverb
  • forcedness noun
  • quasi-forced adjective
  • unforced adjective
  • unforcedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of forced

First recorded in 1540–50; force + -ed 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Iran on Saturday said the strait remained closed, and reportedly fired on two Indian-flagged ships that were forced to turn around.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 19, 2026

Middleton said this would not only be difficult to staff but was also logistically difficult for her school, which would be forced to accommodate more than 300 children in one hall.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

They were forced to cancel those dates and reschedule for spring 2026, losing tens of thousands of dollars in up-front costs and non-refundable fees.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

People were forced to go hungry, choosing between paying for bills or for food, or not eating to ensure children were fed.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

He moved his paws as if he were climbing a ladder, and forced Jonathan’s body up until Jonathan’s head broke the surface.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.