forzato

forced

adjective for-TSAH-toh Rare

Also means

strained

Usage Note

Forzato can describe either a physically forced action (lavoro forzato = forced labour) or something that feels unnatural or contrived — a sorriso forzato is a strained smile. As a noun, un forzato historically meant a convict sentenced to hard labour, still found in literary contexts.

Examples

"Il suo sorriso sembrava forzato."

Natural Translation

His smile seemed forced.

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