forces

/ˈfȯrs/

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *fortia, from Latin fortis strong

noun

  1. strength or energy exerted or brought to bear : cause of motion or change : active, power

  2. —used with a number to indicate the strength of the wind according to the Beaufort scale

  3. moral or mental strength

I was impressed by the force of his character.

power force energy strength might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon. force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

verb

  1. to do violence to; especially : rape

  2. to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means

  3. to make or cause especially through natural or logical necessity

force compel coerce constrain oblige mean to make someone or something yield. force is the general term and implies the overcoming of resistance by the exertion of strength, power, or duress. compel typically suggests overcoming of resistance or unwillingness by an irresistible force.

plural noun

  1. the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation —called also armed services