WordGarden.ioforcible
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɔːsəbəl/
US
- /ˈfɔrsəbəl/
Meanings
Adjective
done by physical force or against someone's will
powerful or convincing in expression
Beyond the definition
Something forcible involves using physical power, or sometimes official power, to make something happen. It is more than being firm. It suggests that resistance is being overcome. You will often meet this word in the phrase forcible entry, where someone gets into a building by breaking in or using strength. In most cases, the word carries the sense that an action is being imposed on someone rather than freely accepted.
Think of it like this: if you ask someone to move, that is a request. If you physically move them against their will, that is forcible. A gentle nudge is not forcible; a tackle is. In a story, a forcible act is often the moment when someone stops trying to persuade and starts using power instead.
The word forcible describes something done with physical force or with clear compulsion, usually against resistance. It is not just about being strong. It suggests that opposition is being overcome and that the action is not fully voluntary for the person on the receiving end. A forcible action may be lawful or unlawful, but it almost always carries a sense of pressure, control, or restraint.
You will encounter forcible most often in situations where physical control matters. A forcible removal from a place means that authorities or other people physically carried, pushed, or dragged someone away. A forcible entry means getting into a building by breaking in or using strength. A forcible confession suggests it was obtained through pressure or threats rather than given freely.
Historically, the word comes from the Latin fortis, meaning "strong." This root also appears in words like fortitude and fortress. It is important to distinguish forcible from forceful. A forceful speaker may simply sound confident, energetic, and persuasive. Forcible, by contrast, usually suggests actual force, restraint, or pressure used to overcome resistance. The word often appears in legal, police, and news contexts, and it usually sounds serious because it points to a loss of choice or control. In short, if something is done by using force to make it happen, especially against resistance, it is forcible.
Examples
- 1
Legal eviction
The landlord was warned that a forcible eviction would be illegal without a court order.
- 2
Crime scene
Police found no sign of forcible entry at the apartment.
- Phrasesign of forcible entry
evidence that someone got in by breaking a door, lock, or window
- 3
Human rights
Human rights groups condemned the forcible return of refugees to the border.
- 4
Corporate takeover
The board rejected the rival company's plan for a forcible takeover.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- forcible entry
- forcible removal
- forcible eviction
Word family
Explore
- coercion
- use of force
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- forcibleadjective