Esp. of speech or writing: easily understood; making a strong impression on the mind; striking, effective. Cf. sense A. 15b. Obsolete.

Of utterances or style: Characterized by forcible and appropriate expression.

Characteristic or done in accordance with the principles of rhetoric; rhetorical; (in early use) spec. †eloquent (obsolete).

Possessing might or power; powerful, potent, strong. Frequently rhetorical, connoting a pre-eminent… Forcible, emphatic; (of speech) forceful…

Of language or style: full of concentrated meaning; conveying meaning forcibly through brevity of expression; concise, succinct; condensed in…

Of persons: Having weight or importance; influential, respected. (Sometimes used as an epithet of respectful address.) Of authors, books, maxims…

Full of pith, pithy; substantial, important; succinct.

Of an argument, utterance, etc.: Producing a powerful effect; adapted to influence or convince; forcible, telling, potent.

figurative in various applications. Full of ‘goodness’ or substance.

Esp. of language: powerfully and forcibly expressive; spoken with force or emphasis; (also) serving to emphasize something. Now rare.

Of a writing style: compact, terse. Obsolete. rare.

That thwacks; that is a thwacker; big, strong, forcible; thumping, whacking.

Of speech, style, etc.: Cogent, impressive, efficacious, effective.

Capable of being enforced. †Also = forcible, adj.

Chiefly Rhetoric. Of written or spoken language, or of a specific word or phrase: that effectively or cogently expresses a meaning or conveys an…

Eloquent.

Of language, writings, arguments, etc. (Cf. nervous, adj. 4.)

Powerfully and forcibly expressive; given with force; (in later use also) serving to emphasize something. Originally used of language, later…

Strengthened with sinews; strong, firm, vigorous, powerful, sinewy.

Of literary or artistic work: vigorous or forceful in style or execution; making a distinct impression on the mind; (also) likely to shock or cause…

full of or characterized by thunder, loud noise, or violent utterance; thundery; thundering.

Vigorous, energetic. Also: pithy. Cf. nervous, adj. 4a. Obsolete. rare.

Of argument, prose, poetry, literary style, etc.: vigorous, powerful, forcible; free from insipidity and diffuseness. Obsolete.

Chiefly Rhetoric. Of written or spoken language, or of a specific word or phrase: that effectively or cogently expresses a meaning or conveys an…

Of written or spoken language, or rhetorical style: characterized by force or power of expression; capable of impressing an idea upon or arousing…

Of the style or execution of a literary or artistic work: vigorous, forceful.

Constraining, impelling; powerful, forcible.

(a) Of an inscription, etc.: Engraved on stone, esp. monumental stones. (b) Of style, etc.: Characteristic of or suitable for monumental inscriptions.

Possessing force. Of actions, words, representations: Producing a powerful effect, telling. Of reasoning: Having logical force, strong, convincing.

Of a person, his or her attributes, appearance, behaviour, etc.: conveying an impression of authority; characterized by an air of authority…

spec. Freed from verbal redundancy; neatly concise; compact and pithy in style or language. (The current use.)

That has a notable impact or effect, or makes a strong impression; effective, striking.

Full of, exhibiting, characterized by, vigour or active force; powerful, strong. Of language, etc.: Energetic, forcible, powerful.

Of expressions: Vigorous, lusty.

thundering (figurative).

figurative (originally U.S.). Full of substance or interest.

figurative. Of narrative, reasoning, etc.: connectedly assembled; coherent; consistent. Now rare.

Of a device, machine, etc.: that has been supplied with the energy required for operation, esp. in the form of electricity; powered up; activated.

Of or pertaining to the jaw; forceful in language.

Originally in Jazz and popular music, used in various senses to designate something profound, serious, etc. colloquial.