forcefuladj.
/ˈfɔːsf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈfɔrsf(ə)l/ 1.
a. Full of force, powerful, strong, vigorous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective]
sprindeOE
livelyOE
kaskc1300
wightc1300
courageousc1386
wighty14..
wieldya1413
ablec1440
tall of hand1530
sappy1558
energical1565
energetical1585
greenya1586
stout1600
strenuous1602
forceful?1624
actuous1626
vigorous1638
vivid1638
high-spirited1653
hearty1665
actuose1677
living1699
full-blooded1707
executive1708
rugged1731
sousing1735
energic1740
bouncing1743
two-fisted1774
energetic1782
zestful1797
rollicking1801
through-ganging1814
throughgoing1814
slashing1828
high-powered1829
high pressure1834
rip-roaring1834
red-blooded1836
ripsnorting1846
zesty1853
dynamic1856
throbbing1864
goey1875
torpedoic1893
kinky1903
zippy1903
go-at-it1904
punchy1907
up-and-at-'em1909
driving1916
vibranta1929
kinetic1931
zinging1931
high-octane1936
zingy1938
slam-bang1939
balls-to-the-wall1967
balls-out1968
ass-kicking1977
hi-octane1977
?1624 G. Chapman tr. Hymn to Venus in tr. Crowne Homers Wks. 96 From all the Fayre Of this so forcefull concourse.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 107 The Waters..Black Sands, as from a forceful Engine throw. View more context for this quotation
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. vi. 150 With forceful strength a branch the Heroe rends.
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 315 The lands..Upturn'd so lately by the forceful share.
1824 W. Scott Let. 15 June (1935) VIII. 301 The Turf is no doubt a very fashionable temptation.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. III. lxxvii. 18 They..leave themselves in the hands of a..forceful minister.
b. Of speech, style, etc.: Cogent, impressive, efficacious, effective.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adjective]
sensiblea1393
eloquent1393
rhetoricc1450
mightya1500
pithy1529
grave1541
pithful1548
weighty1560
sappy1563
emphatical1567
fasta1568
thwacking1567
forceful1571
enforceable1589
energetical1596
eloquious1599
sinewy1600
emphatic1602
sinewed1604
strong1604
tonitruous1606
nervose1645
nervous1663
energetic1674
energic1683
strong1685
cogent1718
lapidary1724
forcible1726
authoritative1749
terse1777
telling1819
vigorous1821
sturdy1822
tonitruant1861
meaty1874
vertebrate1882
energized1887
jawy1898
heavy1970
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxxiv. 18) A forcefull manner of speaking.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. ii. 47 A Word so force-full and significant.
1747 W. Collins Odes 45 Each forceful Thought.
1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 24 8 His clear classical, forceful style.
1870 R. A. Proctor Other Worlds than Ours vi. 147 A forceful argument.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. ii. 54 Melodious, and forceful verse.
2.
a. Acting with force or violence; boisterous, impetuous, violent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective] > characterized by unusual violence or force
ketea1290
worthyc1350
violenta1387
stronga1398
dreicha1400
forciblec1422
strainable1497
vehement1531
forceful1592
wieldy1592
virulent1607
forcive1634
ass-kicking1977
1592 W. Wyrley Capitall de Buz in True Vse Armorie 145 The forcefull floud his vessell doth not spaire.
1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iv. 30 Whose force-full stream runs smoothly serpenting.
1812 Examiner 28 Sept. 620/1 The forceful ejection of a man and his family from their home.
1846 J. Keble Lyra Innocentium 247 Her forceful knocking must Heaven's door assail.
1871 J. S. Blackie Four Phases Morals i. 49 As trees by forceful artifice are made to grow downwards..instead of upwards.
b. Driven with force or violence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > [adjective] > driven with force or violence
forceful1697
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 236 Against the Steed he threw His forceful Spear.
1776 W. J. Mickle tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad 164 Deep through the ranks the forceful weapon past.
3. quasi-adv.= forcefully adv. at Derivatives.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb] > with violence or force
stithlya1300
strengthlya1400
sadc1425
enforcely1487
forcely?a1500
strainably1511
forcible1582
forceful1718
forcefullya1774
1718 N. Rowe tr. Lucan Pharsalia iv. 1023 While his broad Knee bears forceful on his Groin.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 187 The water would burst out as forceful from the one as the other.
Derivatives
ˈforcefully adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adverb]
hardlyeOE
strongeOE
hardOE
fastOE
starklyOE
stalworthlyc1175
starkc1225
mainlyc1300
fellc1330
snellc1330
stout1338
wightlya1340
sadlya1375
sharplyc1380
tough1398
stoutly1399
throa1400
wighta1400
lustilyc1400
sorec1400
vigourslyc1400
stiff1422
vigoriouslya1450
vigorouslya1450
actuallya1470
stourlyc1480
forcely?a1500
lustly1529
fricklyc1540
dingilya1555
livelily?1565
crankly1566
forcibly1578
crank1579
wightily?a1600
proudly1600
energetically1609
stiffly1623
ding-dong1628
greenly1633
hard and fast1646
slashingly1659
thwackingly1660
warmlya1684
robustly1709
sonsily1729
forcefullya1774
vim1843
zippily1924
vibrantly1926
punchily1934
zingily1951
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb] > with violence or force
stithlya1300
strengthlya1400
sadc1425
enforcely1487
forcely?a1500
strainably1511
forcible1582
forceful1718
forcefullya1774
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [adverb]
largec1405
sensibly?a1425
eloquently1471
fectuallyc1485
in largea1500
pithily1533
enforcingly1571
emphatically1577
nervously1641
sensible1659
nervosely1678
forcefullya1774
cogentlya1797
accentedly1856
tersely1874
a1774 O. Goldsmith Surv. Exper. Philos. (1776) I. 415 The external fluid..presses against it as forcefully as its contents press out.
1822 Examiner 616/2 He sang very pleasingly, if not forcefully.
1832 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 31 117 It will butt forcefully against the ramparts.
ˈforcefulness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > vigour or intensity of action > force or intensity of operation or effect
strengthOE
forcec1320
vigour?a1445
forcibleness1563
accent1591
edgea1593
strongnessa1604
keenness?1606
forcefulness1825
power drive1927
kilowattage1935
wattage1964
welly1977
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > vigour or force > [noun]
eloquence1382
elocution1509
gravity?1520
pith?1531
vigour1532
emphasy1548
energy?1549
emphasisa1555
pithiness1557
abruptness1591
emphaticalness1647
nervousness1727
cogency1750
forcibility1771
cogence1782
verve1803
forcefulness1825
force1842
snap1870
full-bloodedness1894
punch1901
compulsiveness1918
punchiness1938
1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 1076 By..forcefulness of wealth.
1866 Contemp. Rev. 2 156 The idiomatic forcefulness of Calvin.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1571