Forceful

/ˈfɔːsfəl/

adjectivemediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Expressing opinions or ideas in a powerful and effective way; having a strong effect.

/ˈfɔːsfəl/

adjectivepositivemedium
General

Expressing opinions or ideas strongly and effectively; powerful.

The company's new marketing campaign was very forceful and quickly captured the attention of consumers.

💡 Simply: When someone is forceful, they speak or act in a way that's really strong and makes people pay attention. Think of a teacher who explains a tricky math problem with a lot of energy, making sure everyone understands.

👶 For kids: When something is forceful, it means it's strong and powerful. Like a superhero who uses their powers to fight the bad guys!

More Examples

2

Her forceful arguments convinced the committee to approve the project.

3

The forceful wind nearly knocked him off his feet.

How It's Used

Politics

"The senator delivered a forceful speech advocating for environmental protection."

Business

"She made a forceful presentation to secure the investment."

2

Using or involving physical strength or violence; characterized by force.

/ˈfɔːsfəl/

adjectivenegativemedium
General

Using or involving physical force.

The authorities took forceful action to restore order after the riot.

💡 Simply: Forceful can also mean using physical power or violence. Like when you push really hard to open a stuck door or when a sports team plays with a lot of physical intensity.

👶 For kids: When something is forceful, it means it uses a lot of strength or power. Like a big bear!

More Examples

2

The forceful current of the river swept the boat downstream.

3

The boxer delivered a forceful punch that knocked out his opponent.

How It's Used

Law Enforcement

"The police used forceful tactics to disperse the crowd."

Military

"The army launched a forceful attack on the enemy base."

Tip:Think of someone using brute force to achieve their goals, which can be forceful.

Idioms & expressions

in full force

Operating with great strength, power, or intensity.

"The storm was in full force last night, with fierce winds and heavy rain."

From 'force' + '-ful'. 'Force' comes from Old French 'forcier', from Latin 'fortis' (strong). The suffix '-ful' indicates 'full of' or 'characterized by'.

The word 'forceful' has been used since the late 17th century, evolving from the concept of physical strength to include the idea of strong expression and influence.

Memory tip

Imagine a forceful speaker using all their strength (force) to make their point.

forcefull

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written