Word
forcible
US/ˈfɔɹsəbəɫ/
UK/fˈɔːsəbəl/
Definition
adj. done by using physical force or violence. You use this to describe an action that happens against someone's will.
adj. done by or involving the use of physical force or violence. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe the removal of a person or the taking of property.
Examples
“The police made a forcible entry into the building.”
“The government faced international criticism after the forcible removal of the protesters from the square.”
“The legal team argued that the property was taken forcible and without due process, rendering the subsequent sale invalid under international law.”
Examples
simple
“The police made a forcible entry into the building.”
contextual
“The government faced international criticism after the forcible removal of the protesters from the square.”
complex
“The legal team argued that the property was taken forcible and without due process, rendering the subsequent sale invalid under international law.”
Real-World Examples
“And thirdly, we need to reverse the trend of forcible displacement in the West Bank.” “Gregory Binns, 27, is charged with sexual assault, assault by choking and forcible confinement.” Etymology
From Middle English forcible, forsable, from Old French forcible, from forcier (“to conquer by force”), equivalent to force + -ible.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/forcible