unforced

adjective

un·​forced ˌən-ˈfȯrst How to pronounce unforced (audio)
: not forced: such as
a
: done or produced naturally or with minimal effort
a genuine, unforced smile
His writing has a natural, unforced style.
b
: caused by one's own poor play, performance, etc.
an unforced error in tennis

Examples of unforced in a Sentence

the participation of the people on the project must be unforced, or it really isn't a volunteer effort
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nike has formidable competitive advantages but fixing the culture and the unforced strategic errors of the past will take time, as the CEO’s decision to focus on key countries, cities and fields of play acknowledges. Michael Bloom, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2025 After making 14 unforced errors in 9 games in the opening set, Alcaraz raced to 5-1, 40-0 in the second before again offering Musetti a lifeline with two mistakes that allowed the Italian to get back to 40-40 with a return winner. James Hansen, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Emma double-faults, tying the game at 30-all, before Jabeur commits back-to-back unforced errors, clearing the way for Navarro to advance to the fourth round of the Grand Slam tournament. Jemima McEvoy, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Gauff hit 12 double faults and had 45 unforced errors during her defeat to Linette, who picks up the fifth win against a top-five player of her career. Matias Grez, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unforced

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unforced was in 1605

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Cite this Entry

“Unforced.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforced. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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