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as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others a forceful speaker whose words moved the audience to tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of forceful This latest acquisition kicks off a period of more forceful activity for the sales outfit, which had been focusing on four to five acquisitions a year since the pandemic. Ben Croll, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025 At the same time, some of those who have been forceful advocates of Israel and critics of U.S. assistance to the Lebanese military have often complained that it has been infiltrated by Hezbollah. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 8 Jan. 2025 McIntosh is equally forceful as the undaunted leader whose kicks toward the surface do not weaken, no matter how long the odds have become. Robert Daniels, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024 An astonishing tale of fighting climate change from one of the most forceful voices in the field. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forceful 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for forceful
Adjective
  • Gates offers an incredibly compelling premise, shedding light on the scale of military propaganda in the United States, but in taking on so much, her film ends up not saying enough.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Miami Herald Linda Robertson has written about a variety of compelling subjects during an award-winning career.
    Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • An aggressive exterior, with more aero and venting, hints at the performance potential within.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • With how aggressive Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has been on fourth down, Fangio has to treat third down like second down.
    Ted Nguyen, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • The top three raters on the site—all from Denmark—logged over 50,000 different beers, evidence of how the site was influential in driving consumers to taste different beers and share them with friends near and far.
    Don Tse, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • But experts have warned that the withdrawal of WHO’s most influential member could harm global health.
    Christian Edwards, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Though, tripling a guy’s salary and paying him seven figures is certainly a convincing place to start.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Proxy battles don’t bring trophies, but for Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh, John Lynch, and the Niners, the Eagles and Chiefs winning provides a convincing argument that San Francisco isn’t far away from contending again.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • On Friday, Paschal continued its success with an emphatic 42-21 victory over O.D. Wyatt at Wyatt High School.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Her cues as a leader were not nearly as confident — the arms a little too vague, the nods too emphatic.
    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Our commitment includes the vigorous pursuit of both the North Korean actors and those providing them with material support.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
  • The hammam routine involves mixed use of the herbal steam room, dry heat sauna, stimulating Swiss shower, cool mist room, aqua massage vitality pool, and a warm marble belly stone; not to mention a vigorous body scrub followed by a purifying cleanse and 60- or 90-minute massage.
    Ariel Okin, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Modern viewers have short-attention spans and the ones who still watch broadcast TV still gravitate to an authoritative solo figure who talks to them about politics, natural disasters, overseas drama and even popular culture.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
  • But this information is not revealed through title cards or authoritative talking heads.
    Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near forceful

Cite this Entry

“Forceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/forceful. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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