Forces

force  (fôrs, frs)

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.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin fortia, from neuter pl. of Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots.]

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forcea·ble adj.

forcer 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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Forces [ˈfɔːsɪz]

pl n

(Military) (usually preceded by the) the armed services of a nation