With a force, I hit back like sailors (8)

'with a force' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'i hit back like sailors' is the wordplay.
'hit' becomes 'ram' (ram can mean to hit something).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'like sailors' becomes 'nara' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'i'+'ram'='iram'
'iram' back-to-front is 'mari'.
'mari'+'nara'='MARINARA'

Can you help me to learn more?