Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Effected against resistance through the use of force.
  • adjective Characterized by force; powerful.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Characterized by the exertion or use of force; energetic; vigorous; violent: as, a forcible current; forcible means or measures.
  • Done or effected by force; procured or brought about by the use of force: as, a forcible abduction.
  • Having force or cogency; strong; potent; efficacious: as, a forcible argument.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Possessing force; characterized by force, efficiency, or energy; powerful; efficacious; impressive; influential.
  • adjective Violent; impetuous.
  • adjective Using force against opposition or resistance; obtained by compulsion; effected by force.
  • adjective (Law) the entering upon and taking and withholding of land and tenements by actual force and violence, and with a strong hand, to the hindrance of the person having the right to enter.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Able to be forced.
  • adjective Having force.
  • adjective Having a powerful effect; telling

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective impelled by physical force especially against resistance

Etymologies

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