forceful

force·ful
F4O1R1C3E1F4U1L1
UK/ˈfɔːsfəl/UK[ˈfɔːsfl̩]Australia, British, New Zealand, Southern, Standard/ˈfoːsfəl/Australia, British, New Zealand, Southern, Standard[ˈfoːsfl̩]

adjective

Capable of either physical or coercive force; powerful.

“forceful leader”

Similar
forciblecogentbruisingdrasticemphaticexclamatoryfirmstrong
Opposite
gentleforceless
Less commonScrabble 16
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Meanings

adjectiveforceful (comparative more forceful, superlative most forceful)

comparative more forceful · superlative most forceful · alternative obsolete forcefull

  1. Capable of either physical or coercive force; powerful.

    forceful leader

    3 more examples

    forceful speech

    She gave a forceful argument against the proposal.

    His forceful personality often dominated discussions.

    Synonyms: forcible, cogent

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveCapable of either physical or coercive force; powerful.

Similar
forciblecogent
Opposite
gentle

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivecharacterized by or full of force or strength (often but not necessarily physical)

Similar
bruisingdrasticemphaticexclamatoryfirmstrong
Opposite
forceless

adjectiveforceful and definite in expression or action

Similar
emphaticassertiveself-assertingself-assertive
Also see
assertivebossybruisingdemandingdomineeringdrasticemphaticexclamatoryfirmforciblefull-throatedheavy-handedimpellentimpetuousloudobtrusiveoppressivephysicalpowerfulself-assertivesharpstrongstrong-arm

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From force + -ful.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian силен, мощен
  • силен (silen)powerful
  • мощен (mošten)powerful
German energisch, zwingend
  • energischpowerful
  • zwingendpowerful
Irish fórsúil, láthair
  • fórsúilpowerful
  • láthairpowerful
Spanish poderoso, potente
  • poderosopowerful
  • potentepowerful
  • enérgicopowerful
Cite this entry
APA

forceful. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forceful

MLA

“forceful.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forceful. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “forceful,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/forceful.

Source: forceful on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.