steamroller
[steem-roh-ler]
See more synonyms for steamroller on Thesaurus.com- a heavy steam-powered vehicle having a roller for crushing, compacting, or leveling materials used for a road or the like.
- (not in technical use) any similar vehicle with a roller.
- an overpowering force, especially one that crushes all opposition with ruthless disregard for individual rights.
- to crush or flatten with a steamroller.
- to overcome with superior force: to steamroller the competition.
- to bring about the adoption of by overwhelming pressure: to steamroller the resolution through.
verb (used without object)- to proceed with implacable force.
- suggestive of a steamroller; ruthlessly overpowering: steamroller tactics.
Origin of steamroller
First recorded in
1865–70; steam +
roller1Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for steamroller
Contemporary Examples of steamroller
The Donald Trump steamroller got run off the road last week, and getting back on track may not be easy.
His hard lines and angles project the arrogance of a confidence man, or as Arlyn Imberman puts it, “a steamroller.”
Historical Examples of steamroller
British Dictionary definitions for steamroller- a steam-powered vehicle with heavy rollers at the front and rear used for compressing road surfaces during road-making
- another word for roadroller
- an overpowering force or a person with such force that overcomes all opposition
- (as modifier)steamroller tactics
- (tr) to crush (opposition, etc) by overpowering force
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
