force
force (fôrs, fōrs)n. 1. The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power: the force of an explosion. 2. a. Power made operative against resistance; exertion: use force in driving a nail. b. The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain: a confession obtained by force. 3. a. Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech. b. Moral strength. c. A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy: the force of logical argumentation. d. One that possesses such capacity: the forces of evil. 4. a. A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose: a large labor force. b. A person or group capable of influential action: a retired senator who is still a force in national politics. 5. a. Military strength. b. The entire military strength, as of a nation. Often used in the plural. c. A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat: Our forces have at last engaged the enemy. 6. Law. Legal validity. 7. Physics. A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceleration of a body in the direction of its application. 8. Baseball. A force play.tr.v. forced, forc·ing, forc·es 1. To compel through pressure or necessity: I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job. 2. a. To gain by the use of force or coercion: force a confession. b. To move or effect against resistance or inertia: forced my foot into the shoe. c. To inflict or impose relentlessly: He forced his ideas upon the group. 3. a. To put undue strain on: She forced her voice despite being hoarse. b. To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum. c. To produce with effort and against one's will: force a laugh in spite of pain. d. To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness. 4. a. To move, open, or clear by force: forced our way through the crowd. b. To break down or open by force: force a lock. 5. To rape. 6. Botany. To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes. 7. Baseball. a. To put (a runner) out on a force play. b. To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded. 8. Games. To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).Idioms:force (someone's) hand To force to act or speak prematurely or unwillingly.in force 1. In full strength; in large numbers: Demonstrators were out in force. 2. In effect; operative: a rule that is no longer in force. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong. See bhergh-2 in Indo-European Roots.] forceʹa·ble adj.forcʹer n. Synonyms: force, compel, coerce, constrain, oblige, obligate These verbs mean to cause a person or thing to follow a prescribed or dictated course. Force, the most general, usually implies the exertion of physical power or the operation of circumstances that permit no options: Tear gas forced the fugitives out of their hiding place. Compel applies especially to an act dictated by one in authority: Say nothing unless you're compelled to. Coerce invariably implies the use of strength or harsh measures in securing compliance: “The man of genius rules... by persuading an efficient minority to coerce an indifferent and self-indulgent majority” (James Fitzjames Stephen). Constrain suggests that one is bound to a course of action by physical or moral means or by the operation of compelling circumstances: “I will never be by violence constrained to do anything” (Elizabeth I). Oblige implies the operation of authority, necessity, or moral or ethical considerations: “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do” (Mark Twain). Obligate applies when compliance is enforced by a legal contract or by the dictates of one's conscience or sense of propriety: I am obligated to repay the loan. See also synonyms at strength
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