to impose

Examples

• All

• It is not fair to impose additional work on employees without proper notice.

• A local functionary, August Issel, was determined to impose Nazi ideology on the village.

  Academic text (2011)

• But to be fair, they never try and impose too much.

  The Daily Ketchup Podcast

• The Jewish community cannot impose any standards of practice or identity on its members.

  Academic text (1999)

• How could she have imposed that on that child?

• And no one can or should impose anything on Ukrainians.

• And your job isn't to impose everything you would do on them.

• I mean, it's cruel to to impose the largest Medicaid cut in American history.

• He just comes in and imposes his will on all of us with no discussion.

  F1 (2025)

• The new manager plans to impose stricter deadlines on the team to improve efficiency.

Synonyms

M

to make

vsto impose

∞ 1.0

To force someone to do something

emphasizes authority or pressure to accept something rather than general causation

F

to force

vsto impose

∞ 2.3

To make someone do something by using power or pressure

uses authority or institutional power to insist acceptance rather than raw physical action

C

to compel

vsto impose

258 4.8

Force someone to do something or make them feel they must

focuses on authority or pressure to accept rather than unavoidable necessity

P

to pressure

vsto impose

149 4.2

To try to make someone do something

often involves authority or formal demands rather than only persuasion attempts

C

to coerce

vsto impose

• Offensive

91 6.4

Force someone to do something by threats

uses authority or pressure to require acceptance rather than direct threats

O

to obligate

vsto impose

• Formal

89 6.7

Make someone legally or morally have to do something

is broader, using general authority or pressure for unwelcome acceptance beyond duty

O

to oblige

vsto impose

• Formal

72 4.5

To make someone do something because the law or rules say so

is less tied to duty and more about forcing acceptance through authority or pressure

T

to thrust

vsto impose

41 6.7

To force something on someone, often against their will

is carried out by authority or pressure rather than a direct push

F

to foist

vsto impose

20 8.4

Force or trick someone into accepting something they do not want

uses clear authority or pressure instead of deception to make acceptance required

B

to bring to heel

vsto impose

• Informal

3 7.6

Make someone or something obey after they resist

focuses on forcing acceptance of something rather than gaining obedience or submission

S

to shove down someone's throat

vsto impose

• Informal

2 9.1

Force someone to accept an idea they do not want

can be done by authority or pressure, not only by rude aggression

F

to force down

vsto impose

• Informal

2 7.0

To make someone accept ideas they do not want

uses authority or pressure to require acceptance rather than mere persistence

I

to impose one's beliefs

vsto impose

1 7.2

Force your beliefs on other people who do not want them

covers forcing acceptance generally, not limited to personal opinions or beliefs

B

to bring pressure to bear

vsto impose

• Formal

1 6.0

To use influence to persuade someone to do something

emphasizes official authority or command rather than informal influence

F

to force down someone's throat

vsto impose

• Informal

1 8.3

Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them

often relies on authority or pressure rather than overt aggression to gain acceptance

Antonyms

A

to allow

∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

Phrasal Verbs

I

to impose on

60 5.5

To force someone to accept something or to ask too much of them

I

to impose one's beliefs

1 7.2

Force your beliefs on other people who do not want them

I

to impose a fine

• Formal

1 3.8

Officially order someone to pay money as punishment for breaking a rule

How Forceful

to force

∞ 2.3

to coerce

• Offensive

91 6.4

to impose

271 4.8

to press

285 3.9

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology