FORCIBLE, adjective 1. Powerful; strong; mighty; as a punishment forcible to bridle sin. 2. Violent; impetuous; driving forward with force; as a forcible stream. 3. Efficacious; active; powerful. Sweet smells are most forcible in dry substances when broken. 4. Powerful; acting with force; impressive; as forcible words or arguments. 5. Containing force; acting by violence; as forcible means. 6. Done by force; suffered by force. The abdication of James, his advocates hold to have been forcible 7. Valid; binding; obligatory. [Not used.] 8. In law, forcible entry is an actual violent entry into houses or lands. FORCIBLE detainer, is a violent withholding of the lands, etc. of another from his possession. FORCIBLE abduction, is the act of taking away wrongfully, as a child without the consent of the father, a ward without the consent of the guardian, or any person contrary to his or her will.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI