3 syllables: forc, i, bly. Stress on forc.
FAWR-suh-blee
/ˈfɔɹsəbli/
forcibly is pronounced FAWR-suh-blee (/ˈfɔɹsəbli/). It has three syllables (forc-i-bly), with the stress on "forc". Forcibly means using physical power or coercion to cause something to happen or to prevent something from happening. It describes actions done with force, rather than by persuasion, and often implies an involuntary or harsh measure.
Forcibly means using physical power or coercion to cause something to happen or to prevent something from happening. It describes actions done with force, rather than by persuasion, and often implies an involuntary or harsh measure.
- Focus on 2-3 phonetic challenges: correct first-syllable vowel /ɔː/ (not /oʊ/ or /ɑ/), accurate rhotic /r/ for US, and the /bli/ ending with final /i/ vowel. - Do minimal pair drills: forc e vs forc e → force (wrong) vs forcibly (correct) and 'for-ced' vs 'forcibly' to feel the /s/ and /b/ transitions. - Record yourself clearly pronouncing /ˈfɔːr.sə.bli/; fix any blending that makes /r/ vanish or /s/ merge with /ə/. - Avoid inserting extra vowels; keep syllable structure: FORC - ibly. - Lip and tongue: keep vowels rounded for /ɔː/ and maintain a light /r/ release without adding syllabic vowels.
"The guard kept the distressed crowd at bay by forcibly moving them away."
"She was forcibly removed from the premises when she refused to leave."
"The door was forced open with a crowbar, forcibly breaking the lock."
You pronounce it as /ˈfɔːr.sə.bli/ in US and UK English, with the primary stress on FOR- (the first syllable). Start with a rounded open back vowel /ɔː/ (as in 'law'), follow with /r/ taking a light American rhotic release, then /sə/ (unstressed second syllable) and end with /bli/ where the final 'bly' lands as /bli/ with a light /l/ and a voiced /b/ before it. Think: FORS-uh-blee. For audio reference, consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries' audio tabs.
Common errors include misplacing the stress, saying 'FOR-cuh-blee' vs 'for-SI-blee' and devoicing the final /l/; some speakers insert an extra syllable (forc-ee-bly) or cluster sounds too tightly. Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈfɔːr.sə.bli/. Ensure you produce a clear /s/ between the first and second syllables and a clean /b/ before /li/. Practice with slow, syllable-by-syllable articulation while listening to native audio.
In US English, you’ll hear rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a strong /ɔː/ diphthong, with a clear /sbli/ ending. UK English often features a shorter /ɔː/ and slightly less rhoticity in some regions, with the second syllable less prominent; Australians may have a flatter /ɔː/ and a softer /l/ and /r/ treatment depending on speaker. Overall, the main differences are vowel quality of /ɔː/ and the rhotic pronunciation of /r/ in the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the sequence /ˈfɔːr/ followed by /sə/ and then /bli/. The challenge is maintaining the long open back vowel /ɔː/ in a stressed syllable while transitioning quickly into the /r/ and the consonant cluster /sə/. Additionally, the /bli/ ending requires a light, quick /l/ before a final /i/ vowel; maintaining steady tempo without losing clarity in the three-syllable word can be tricky.
There are no silent letters in forc i bly; it is phonemically regular for an English adverb formed from force + -able with the adverbial -ly suffix. The core pronunciation revolves around three syllables: FORC-uh-blee, with robust /fɔː/ and /r/ in the first syllable, and clear /bli/ at the end. If you’re unsure of the /ɔː/ vowel, compare to words like 'force' and 'forbid' to hear the sound.
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- US: rhotic /r/, strong /ɔː/ quality; keep /r/ sound distinct and avoid flapping. - UK: often non-rhotic in some accents; ensure /r/ is not overly prominent unless rhotic variant; keep /ɔː/ stable. - AU: tends toward broader /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on speaker; ensure final /li/ is crisp with a clear /l/ and /i/. - Across accents, remember the middle /sə/ is reduced; keep it lighter than the initial stressed syllable. - IPA references: US /ˈfɔːr.sə.bli/, UK /ˈfɔː.sə.bli/, AU /ˈfɔː.sə.bli/.
The adverb forcibly derives from force + -ly, from Middle English fource or forssen? The primary root is Old French forcer ‘to force’ (from Latin fortis ‘strong, powerful’). The sense shift into governing actions by physical force evolved in Early Modern English, aligning with legal and social usage of coercion or compulsion. The word appeared in texts by the 15th–16th centuries as English speakers described acts done through strength or compulsion. In modern usage, forcible usually modifies verbs or actions, as in forcing someone or something to occur, move, or be altered, and often carries a negative or coercive connotation. First known use is attested in late Middle English/early modern English dictionaries and legal writings, with the sense consolidating around “by force” rather than “by persuasion.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "forcibly" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "forcibly" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "forcibly"
-e-? sounds
-rse sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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