steamroller

American  

[steem-roh-ler] / ˈstimˌroʊ lər /

noun

1. a heavy steam-powered vehicle having a roller for crushing, compacting, or leveling materials used for a road or the like.

2. (not in technical use) any similar vehicle with a roller.

3. an overpowering force, especially one that crushes all opposition with ruthless disregard for individual rights.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to crush or flatten with a steamroller.

2. to overcome with superior force.

   to steamroller the competition.

3. to bring about the adoption of by overwhelming pressure.

   to steamroller the resolution through.

verb (used without object)

1. to proceed with implacable force.

adjective

1. suggestive of a steamroller; ruthlessly overpowering.

   steamroller tactics.

steamroller British  

/ ˈstiːmˌrəʊlə /

noun

1. 1. a steam-powered vehicle with heavy rollers at the front and rear used for compressing road surfaces during road-making

   2. another word for roadroller

2. 1. an overpowering force or a person with such force that overcomes all opposition

   2. ( as modifier )

      steamroller tactics

---

verb

1. (tr) to crush (opposition, etc) by overpowering force

Etymology

Origin of steamroller

First recorded in 1865–70; steam + roller ¹

Example Sentences

There’s some nostalgia involved, sure, tied up with memories of dancing with your goth girlfriends at New Wave Dance Night, but all three of those songs on a random Friday in Ohio were total steamrollers.

From Salon

Samoa and Australia also succumbed to the steamroller.

From BBC

But the match flipped from the start of the second set as the home favourite steamrollered past Paul to win nine successive games, and the American could not recover.

From BBC

"It was like a steamroller that crushed everything," Nasrine, a teacher who did not give her last name, told AFP in her destroyed neighbourhood in Pamandzi.

From BBC

New Zealand, on the back of an historic 3-0 series win in India, started this series as favourites only to be steamrollered in barely seven days of Test cricket.

From BBC