The government must enforce the law immediately.
Source: tatoeba (271501)
Enforce
/ɪnˈfoɹs/
Synonyms for "enforce" (150 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
abide byaccomplishadhere toadministerapplybestowbindbring to bearbrowbeatbullycarry outcarry throughcausecause tocoercecompel
Adjective(3 words)
binding legal rulecivil order lawscivil ordering
Strong matches (45)
Verb(9 words)
Noun(10 words)
conduct policydistrict conduct procedureem forceenacted education statuteenactingforces readingfrench forcefuel economy passenger vehiclehallmarkingimpose penalty labor
Adjective(1 words)
formal rules
Related words (75)
Verb(17 words)
Adjective(2 words)
imposinglegal measure
Noun(18 words)
management disciplinemore forcedpatient quarantineperfectspolicepolicingpolicing guidelinespolicy change implementationpublicly administeredquality controlrastabanregimentingsubject standardsuperintendingsystematizes recordstaskmasterstrade regulatoryuphold societal order
Preposition(1 words)
with force
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: impose, abide by, accomplish, actuating, adhere to.
- Sentence evidence is available for enforce, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "enforce".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "enforce"
Keep "enforce" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "enforce" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "enforce", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "enforce" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
5 entriesdiscipline enforcementlaw enforcementpolicy enforcementrule enforcementstrict enforcement
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesTranslations
14 translations across 12 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- укрепявам verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Czech
2 entries- posilovat verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
- posílit verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Dutch
1 entries- versterken verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Finnish
1 entries- vahvistaa verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
French
1 entries- renforcer verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Greek
1 entries- ισχυροποιώ verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Hungarian
2 entries- megerősít verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
- megszilárdít verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Italian
1 entries- rafforzare verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Portuguese
1 entries- reforçar verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Romanian
1 entries- întări verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Spanish
1 entries- reforzar verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Swedish
1 entries- förstärka verb ((obsolete in English) to strengthen)
Sample sentences
26 total sentences available.
The Sioux tribe asked the government to enforce the treaty.
Source: tatoeba (805494)
The laws were very difficult to enforce.
Source: tatoeba (807396)
Those who enforce the law must obey the law.
Source: tatoeba (1650387)
Showing 4 of 26 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "enforce"?
Closest matches include impose, abide by, accomplish, actuating, adhere to.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "enforce"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.