force back

VERB

repel

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chase away confront drive away drive off fend off hold off rebuff resist ward off withstand

STRONG

buck check cool cut decline dismiss disown dispute duel fight kick oppose parry rebut refuse reject traverse

WEAK

beat back beat off brush off cast aside drive back force off give cold shoulder to hold back keep at arm's length keep at bay keep off knock down push back put down put to flight stand up against stave off turn down

Antonyms

STRONG

accept agree aid allow approve assist help increase sanction support

WEAK

attract draw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mayor Karen Bass has called for the department to replenish its ranks, proposing a budget that takes the force back up to 9,500.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2023

The United States has stumbled on this effect several times, but perhaps most powerfully in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, when it sought to force back its Communist adversaries by bombing their towns and cities.

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2022

Meanwhile, the Canucks got an offensive force back in Brock Boeser.

From Washington Times • Nov. 28, 2018

If a force is exerted on an object, it must be exerted by something else, and the object will exert an equal and opposite force back on that something.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

I bit the inside of my cheek to force back the tears.

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

force back

Example Sentences

Related Words