diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/common/index.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/common/index.ts
index 79ff6298a2ca28..08bb4022c7016e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/common/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/common/index.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export interface DeleteTransformEndpointRequest {
   transformsInfo: TransformEndpointRequest[];
   deleteDestIndex?: boolean;
   deleteDestIndexPattern?: boolean;
+  forceDelete?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface DeleteTransformStatus {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_api.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_api.ts
index 7f6ea817f18d24..56528370a3ab9a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_api.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_api.ts
@@ -47,10 +47,16 @@ export const useApi = () => {
       deleteTransforms(
         transformsInfo: TransformEndpointRequest[],
         deleteDestIndex: boolean | undefined,
-        deleteDestIndexPattern: boolean | undefined
+        deleteDestIndexPattern: boolean | undefined,
+        forceDelete: boolean
       ): Promise<DeleteTransformEndpointResult> {
         return http.post(`${API_BASE_PATH}delete_transforms`, {
-          body: JSON.stringify({ transformsInfo, deleteDestIndex, deleteDestIndexPattern }),
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            transformsInfo,
+            deleteDestIndex,
+            deleteDestIndexPattern,
+            forceDelete,
+          }),
         });
       },
       getTransformsPreview(obj: PreviewRequestBody): Promise<GetTransformsResponse> {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_delete_transform.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_delete_transform.tsx
index 1f395e67b7d31f..43c5ae6fad1b18 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_delete_transform.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/hooks/use_delete_transform.tsx
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { toMountPoint } from '../../../../../../src/plugins/kibana_react/public';
 import {
-  TransformEndpointRequest,
   DeleteTransformEndpointResult,
   DeleteTransformStatus,
+  TransformEndpointRequest,
 } from '../../../common';
-import { getErrorMessage, extractErrorMessage } from '../../shared_imports';
+import { extractErrorMessage, getErrorMessage } from '../../shared_imports';
 import { useAppDependencies, useToastNotifications } from '../app_dependencies';
-import { TransformListRow, refreshTransformList$, REFRESH_TRANSFORM_LIST_STATE } from '../common';
+import { REFRESH_TRANSFORM_LIST_STATE, refreshTransformList$, TransformListRow } from '../common';
 import { ToastNotificationText } from '../components';
 import { useApi } from './use_api';
 import { indexService } from '../services/es_index_service';
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ export const useDeleteIndexAndTargetIndex = (items: TransformListRow[]) => {
   const [deleteIndexPattern, setDeleteIndexPattern] = useState<boolean>(true);
   const [userCanDeleteIndex, setUserCanDeleteIndex] = useState<boolean>(false);
   const [indexPatternExists, setIndexPatternExists] = useState<boolean>(false);
+
   const toggleDeleteIndex = useCallback(() => setDeleteDestIndex(!deleteDestIndex), [
     deleteDestIndex,
   ]);
   const toggleDeleteIndexPattern = useCallback(() => setDeleteIndexPattern(!deleteIndexPattern), [
     deleteIndexPattern,
   ]);
-
   const checkIndexPatternExists = useCallback(
     async (indexName: string) => {
       try {
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ export const useDeleteIndexAndTargetIndex = (items: TransformListRow[]) => {
   useEffect(() => {
     checkUserIndexPermission();
 
+    // if user only deleting one transform
     if (items.length === 1) {
       const config = items[0].config;
       const destinationIndex = Array.isArray(config.dest.index)
@@ -110,7 +111,8 @@ export const useDeleteTransforms = () => {
   return async (
     transforms: TransformListRow[],
     shouldDeleteDestIndex: boolean,
-    shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern: boolean
+    shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern: boolean,
+    shouldForceDelete = false
   ) => {
     const transformsInfo: TransformEndpointRequest[] = transforms.map((tf) => ({
       id: tf.config.id,
@@ -121,7 +123,8 @@ export const useDeleteTransforms = () => {
       const results: DeleteTransformEndpointResult = await api.deleteTransforms(
         transformsInfo,
         shouldDeleteDestIndex,
-        shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern
+        shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern,
+        shouldForceDelete
       );
       const isBulk = Object.keys(results).length > 1;
       const successCount: Record<SuccessCountField, number> = {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/sections/transform_management/components/transform_list/action_delete.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/sections/transform_management/components/transform_list/action_delete.tsx
index d7db55990d3338..19297eb25d0bd5 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/sections/transform_management/components/transform_list/action_delete.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/public/app/sections/transform_management/components/transform_list/action_delete.tsx
@@ -4,25 +4,25 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import React, { Fragment, FC, useContext, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { FC, Fragment, useContext, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import {
+  EUI_MODAL_CONFIRM_BUTTON,
   EuiButtonEmpty,
   EuiConfirmModal,
-  EuiOverlayMask,
-  EuiToolTip,
-  EUI_MODAL_CONFIRM_BUTTON,
   EuiFlexGroup,
   EuiFlexItem,
-  EuiSwitch,
+  EuiOverlayMask,
   EuiSpacer,
+  EuiSwitch,
+  EuiToolTip,
 } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n/react';
 import { TRANSFORM_STATE } from '../../../../../../common';
-import { useDeleteTransforms, useDeleteIndexAndTargetIndex } from '../../../../hooks';
+import { useDeleteIndexAndTargetIndex, useDeleteTransforms } from '../../../../hooks';
 import {
-  createCapabilityFailureMessage,
   AuthorizationContext,
+  createCapabilityFailureMessage,
 } from '../../../../lib/authorization';
 import { TransformListRow } from '../../../../common';
 
@@ -31,11 +31,17 @@ interface DeleteActionProps {
   forceDisable?: boolean;
 }
 
+const transformCanNotBeDeleted = (i: TransformListRow) =>
+  ![TRANSFORM_STATE.STOPPED, TRANSFORM_STATE.FAILED].includes(i.stats.state);
+
 export const DeleteAction: FC<DeleteActionProps> = ({ items, forceDisable }) => {
   const isBulkAction = items.length > 1;
 
-  const disabled = items.some((i: TransformListRow) => i.stats.state !== TRANSFORM_STATE.STOPPED);
-
+  const disabled = items.some(transformCanNotBeDeleted);
+  const shouldForceDelete = useMemo(
+    () => items.some((i: TransformListRow) => i.stats.state === TRANSFORM_STATE.FAILED),
+    [items]
+  );
   const { canDeleteTransform } = useContext(AuthorizationContext).capabilities;
   const deleteTransforms = useDeleteTransforms();
   const {
@@ -56,7 +62,12 @@ export const DeleteAction: FC<DeleteActionProps> = ({ items, forceDisable }) =>
     const shouldDeleteDestIndex = userCanDeleteIndex && deleteDestIndex;
     const shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern =
       userCanDeleteIndex && indexPatternExists && deleteIndexPattern;
-    deleteTransforms(items, shouldDeleteDestIndex, shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern);
+    // if we are deleting multiple transforms, then force delete all if at least one item has failed
+    // else, force delete only when the item user picks has failed
+    const forceDelete = isBulkAction
+      ? shouldForceDelete
+      : items[0] && items[0] && items[0].stats.state === TRANSFORM_STATE.FAILED;
+    deleteTransforms(items, shouldDeleteDestIndex, shouldDeleteDestIndexPattern, forceDelete);
   };
   const openModal = () => setModalVisible(true);
 
@@ -89,11 +100,19 @@ export const DeleteAction: FC<DeleteActionProps> = ({ items, forceDisable }) =>
   const bulkDeleteModalContent = (
     <>
       <p>
-        <FormattedMessage
-          id="xpack.transform.transformList.bulkDeleteModalBody"
-          defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to delete {count, plural, one {this} other {these}} {count} {count, plural, one {transform} other {transforms}}?"
-          values={{ count: items.length }}
-        />
+        {shouldForceDelete ? (
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.transform.transformList.bulkForceDeleteModalBody"
+            defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to force delete {count, plural, one {this} other {these}} {count} {count, plural, one {transform} other {transforms}}? The {count, plural, one {transform} other {transforms}} will be deleted regardless of {count, plural, one {its} other {their}} current state."
+            values={{ count: items.length }}
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.transform.transformList.bulkDeleteModalBody"
+            defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to delete {count, plural, one {this} other {these}} {count} {count, plural, one {transform} other {transforms}}?"
+            values={{ count: items.length }}
+          />
+        )}
       </p>
       <EuiFlexGroup direction="column" gutterSize="none">
         <EuiFlexItem>
@@ -134,10 +153,17 @@ export const DeleteAction: FC<DeleteActionProps> = ({ items, forceDisable }) =>
   const deleteModalContent = (
     <>
       <p>
-        <FormattedMessage
-          id="xpack.transform.transformList.deleteModalBody"
-          defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to delete this transform?"
-        />
+        {items[0] && items[0] && items[0].stats.state === TRANSFORM_STATE.FAILED ? (
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.transform.transformList.forceDeleteModalBody"
+            defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to force delete this transform? The transform will be deleted regardless of its current state."
+          />
+        ) : (
+          <FormattedMessage
+            id="xpack.transform.transformList.deleteModalBody"
+            defaultMessage="Are you sure you want to delete this transform?"
+          />
+        )}
       </p>
       <EuiFlexGroup direction="column" gutterSize="none">
         <EuiFlexItem>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/client/elasticsearch_transform.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/client/elasticsearch_transform.ts
index 91c00f5eb5df20..a17eb1416408a1 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/client/elasticsearch_transform.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/client/elasticsearch_transform.ts
@@ -83,11 +83,14 @@ export const elasticsearchJsPlugin = (Client: any, config: any, components: any)
   transform.deleteTransform = ca({
     urls: [
       {
-        fmt: '/_transform/<%=transformId%>',
+        fmt: '/_transform/<%=transformId%>?&force=<%=force%>',
         req: {
           transformId: {
             type: 'string',
           },
+          force: {
+            type: 'boolean',
+          },
         },
       },
     ],
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/schema.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/schema.ts
index cf39f2e3829ea3..7da3f1ccfe55e3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/schema.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/schema.ts
@@ -27,4 +27,5 @@ export const deleteTransformSchema = schema.object({
   ),
   deleteDestIndex: schema.maybe(schema.boolean()),
   deleteDestIndexPattern: schema.maybe(schema.boolean()),
+  forceDelete: schema.maybe(schema.boolean()),
 });
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/transforms.ts b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/transforms.ts
index 93fda56d319adc..efbe813db5e670 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/transforms.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/transform/server/routes/api/transforms.ts
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ export function registerTransformsRoutes(routeDependencies: RouteDependencies) {
         transformsInfo,
         deleteDestIndex,
         deleteDestIndexPattern,
+        forceDelete,
       } = req.body as DeleteTransformEndpointRequest;
 
       try {
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ export function registerTransformsRoutes(routeDependencies: RouteDependencies) {
           transformsInfo,
           deleteDestIndex,
           deleteDestIndexPattern,
+          forceDelete,
           ctx,
           license,
           res
@@ -295,39 +297,28 @@ async function deleteTransforms(
   transformsInfo: TransformEndpointRequest[],
   deleteDestIndex: boolean | undefined,
   deleteDestIndexPattern: boolean | undefined,
+  shouldForceDelete: boolean = false,
   ctx: RequestHandlerContext,
   license: RouteDependencies['license'],
   response: KibanaResponseFactory
 ) {
-  const tempResults: TransformEndpointResult = {};
   const results: Record<string, DeleteTransformStatus> = {};
 
   for (const transformInfo of transformsInfo) {
     let destinationIndex: string | undefined;
+
     const transformDeleted: ResultData = { success: false };
     const destIndexDeleted: ResultData = { success: false };
     const destIndexPatternDeleted: ResultData = {
       success: false,
     };
     const transformId = transformInfo.id;
+    // force delete only if the transform has failed
+    let needToForceDelete = false;
+
     try {
       if (transformInfo.state === TRANSFORM_STATE.FAILED) {
-        try {
-          await ctx.transform!.dataClient.callAsCurrentUser('transform.stopTransform', {
-            transformId,
-            force: true,
-            waitForCompletion: true,
-          } as StopOptions);
-        } catch (e) {
-          if (isRequestTimeout(e)) {
-            return fillResultsWithTimeouts({
-              results: tempResults,
-              id: transformId,
-              items: transformsInfo,
-              action: TRANSFORM_ACTIONS.DELETE,
-            });
-          }
-        }
+        needToForceDelete = true;
       }
       // Grab destination index info to delete
       try {
@@ -383,6 +374,7 @@ async function deleteTransforms(
       try {
         await ctx.transform!.dataClient.callAsCurrentUser('transform.deleteTransform', {
           transformId,
+          force: shouldForceDelete && needToForceDelete,
         });
         transformDeleted.success = true;
       } catch (deleteTransformJobError) {