ADJ

considerable, great, terrible, tremendous
full, maximum
brute, sheer
reasonable
sufficient
excessive
unlawful
deadly, lethal
explosive
physical
gale
The wind was increasing to gale force

VERB + FORCE

resort to, use
In the end, we had to resort to brute force to get the door open
take sth by
The troops marched in and took the city by force
feel
Even the opposition MPs felt the force of the prime minister's argument

PREP

by ~
The king made laws and imposed them by force

PHRASES

catch/experience/feel/meet/take the full force of sth
Our shop took the full force of the bomb blast. I felt the full force of her criticism
meet force with force
The country's attempts to meet force with force (= resist an attack using force) led to the outbreak of war
the use of force
The regulations allow the use of force if necessary

ADJ

powerful, strong
weak
attractive
repulsive
balanced
external, internal
Deep internal forces cause movements of the earth's crust
lateral
centrifugal, centripetal, electromagnetic, electromotive, gravitational, mechanical, nuclear, tidal
binding, legal, statutory
The contract was not signed and has no binding force

VERB + FORCE

exert
The sun exerts a force on the earth
increase
decrease
balance
The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction
come into
The new law comes into force as from midnight tomorrow
bring sth into

FORCE + VERB

balance sth

FORCE + NOUN

field
the force field of a magnet (figurative) It was as if an invisible force field kept us apart

PREP

~ between
the attractive and repulsive forces between individual particles
in ~
Some laws relating to obsolete customs are still in force

PHRASES

a balance of forces
the balance of nuclear forces in atoms
the force of gravity3 authority of sth
the force of law
Professional standards often do not have the force of law (= cannot be enforced)

ADJ

considerable, formidable, great, irresistible, major, overwhelming, potent, powerful, significant, strong
active, controlling, dominant, driving, moving
motivating
persuasive
constructive, creative, dynamic, positive, progressive
destructive, disruptive, negative, subversive
She was seen as a potentially subversive force within the party
cohesive, unifying
competitive, conflicting, countervailing, reactionary
internal
external, international, outside
The play portrays a marriage torn apart by external forces
natural
powerful natural forces such as earthquakes and drought
spiritual, supernatural
dark, demonic, evil, malevolent
' There are dark forces in the universe, 'he raved,' and we are powerless against them! '
cultural, economic, intellectual, market, moral, political, productive, revolutionary, social
powerful social and economic forces

VERB + FORCE

remain
Though officially retired, she remains the creative force behind the design business
balance
This is a politician who does not like to balance market forces

PREP

~ behind
Local parents were the driving force behind the project
~ for
Competition is a force for change in industry

PHRASES

a balance of forces
shifts in the balance of political forces in Europe
a force to be reckoned with
With its new players, the team is now very much a force to be reckoned with

ADJ

large
small, token
a token force of only 300 men
100-strong, etc.
crack, elite, special
These elite forces are the best equipped and trained in the world
combined, joint
the combined forces of MI5 and Scotland Yard a joint task force
allied, coalition, multinational
strategic
labour, sales
a company's labour force the country's labour force
armed, military, paramilitary
government, loyal
enemy, guerrilla, hostile, occupying, opposition, rebel
regular
reserve
volunteer
conventional
nuclear
assault, defence, expeditionary, fighting, invasion, peace, peacekeeping, police, security, strike (See also task force .)
air, airborne, amphibious, ground, land, naval

VERB + FORCE

assemble, create, form, mobilize, set up
A large expeditionary force is now being assembled
send
the decision to send armed forces over the border
deploy, use
A small peacekeeping force will be deployed in the area
withdraw
demobilize
command, head (up), lead
join
She decided to join the armed forces
combine, join
The two companies have joined forces to form a new consortium

FORCE + VERB

control sth
Rebel forces now control most of the capital

PREP

in a/the ~
people in the security forces

PHRASES

a member of a force, the withdrawal of a force
a UN deadline for the withdrawal of forces