diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_resourcegroup.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_resourcegroup.py
index b2a110f62d6..3bcdbd9237c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_resourcegroup.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/azure/azure_rm_resourcegroup.py
@@ -22,11 +22,13 @@ short_description: Manage Azure resource groups.
 description:
     - Create, update and delete a resource group.
 options:
-    force:
+    force_delete_nonempty:
         description:
             - Remove a resource group and all associated resources. Use with state 'absent' to delete a resource
               group that contains resources.
         type: bool
+        aliases:
+            - force
         default: 'no'
     location:
         description:
@@ -116,14 +118,14 @@ class AzureRMResourceGroup(AzureRMModuleBase):
             name=dict(type='str', required=True),
             state=dict(type='str', default='present', choices=['present', 'absent']),
             location=dict(type='str'),
-            force=dict(type='bool', default=False)
+            force_delete_nonempty=dict(type='bool', default=False, aliases=['force'])
         )
 
         self.name = None
         self.state = None
         self.location = None
         self.tags = None
-        self.force = None
+        self.force_delete_nonempty = None
 
         self.results = dict(
             changed=False,
@@ -201,8 +203,9 @@ class AzureRMResourceGroup(AzureRMModuleBase):
                     )
                 self.results['state'] = self.create_or_update_resource_group(params)
             elif self.state == 'absent':
-                if contains_resources and not self.force:
-                    self.fail("Error removing resource group {0}. Resources exist within the group.".format(self.name))
+                if contains_resources and not self.force_delete_nonempty:
+                    self.fail("Error removing resource group {0}. Resources exist within the group. "
+                              "Use `force_delete_nonempty` to force delete.".format(self.name))
                 self.delete_resource_group()
 
         return self.results