Forcible

adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Done by force, forced.

    "I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, / Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, / Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, / And, in embraces forcible and foul / Engendering with me, of that rape begot / These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry / Surround me, as thou saw'st—"

  2. 2
    Having (physical) force, forceful. obsolete, rare

    "[…] he drew her to him, laid a forcible detaining arm about her waist, and misapprehended her frantic revolt for an exhibition of maidenly reluctance."

  3. 3
    Having a powerful effect; forceful, telling, strong, convincing, effective.

    "But that which hath been once most sufficient, may wax otherwise by alteration of time and place; that punishment which hath been sometimes forcible to bridle sin, may grow afterwards too weak and feebled."

  4. 4
    Able to be forced.

    "[…] it seems that an entry is not forcible by the bare drawing up a latch, or pulling back the bolt of a door, there being no appearance therein of its being done by strong hand, or multitude of people; […]"

Adjective
  1. 1
    impelled by physical force especially against resistance wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English forcible, forsable, from Old French forcible, from forcier (“to conquer by force”), equivalent to force + -ible.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: forcible