juggernaut

American  

[juhg-er-nawt, -not] / ˈdʒʌg ərˌnɔt, -ˌnɒt /

Or Juggernaut

noun

1. any large, overpowering force or object, such as war, a giant battleship, or a powerful football team.

2. anything requiring blind devotion or cruel sacrifice.

3. Chiefly British. A large, heavy vehicle, especially a truck.

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Juggernaut ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒʌɡəˌnɔːt /

noun

1. a crude idol of Krishna worshipped at Puri and throughout Odisha (formerly Orissa) and Bengal. At an annual festival the idol is wheeled through the town on a gigantic chariot and devotees are supposed to have formerly thrown themselves under the wheels

2. a form of Krishna miraculously raised by Brahma from the state of a crude idol to that of a living god

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juggernaut ² British  

/ ˈdʒʌɡəˌnɔːt /

noun

1. any terrible force, esp one that destroys or that demands complete self-sacrifice

2. a very large lorry for transporting goods by road, esp one that travels throughout Europe

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Juggernaut Cultural  

1. A deity in Hinduism, considered a deliverer from sin. His image is carried on a large wagon in an annual procession in India, and according to legend the wagon crushed worshipers who threw themselves under it.

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Discover More

A force, an idea, or a system of beliefs that overcomes opposition — especially if it does so ruthlessly — is called a “juggernaut.”

Other Word Forms

• Juggernautish adjective

Etymology

Origin of juggernaut

First recorded in 1630–40, in the sense of an idol of Krishna annually drawn on an enormous cart in Puri, Odisha, India; 1840–45 juggernaut for defs. 1, 2; from Hindi Jagannāth, from Sanskrit Jagannātha- “lord of the world”; Jagannath ( def. )

Example Sentences

As proof, they point to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the juggernaut whose back-to-back titles and record-setting payrolls have turned them into the proxy for all of MLB’s supposed problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

His spy novels slipped from the public consciousness in those years, in contrast to Fleming's James Bond, which benefited from the marketing juggernaut of a continuing film franchise.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Any juggernaut like this is bound to attract a backlash.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

On Monday, the Justice Department announced a settlement of its antitrust case against the live entertainment juggernaut just a week into the trial.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

He saw a great juggernaut of stars form in the sky and threaten to roll over and crush him.

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

Related Words

• barrage
• cavalcade