The phrase "were forced to" implies an element of coercion, suggesting that some action was taken unwillingly or under duress. Some synonyms for this term include "compelled to," "obliged to," "pressured into," "coerced to," "constrained to," "made to," "mandated to," and "enforced to." While these words all indicate a sense of being forced or obligated to act in a certain way, they may differ slightly in emphasis or connotation. For example, "pressured into" may suggest more subtle or persuasive forms of coercion, while "enforced to" may imply a more formal or legally binding obligation.