steamroller

[steem-roh-ler]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of steamroller¹

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.

Read more on Salon

Samoa and Australia also succumbed to the steamroller.

Read more on 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.

Read more on BBC

But President Trump, Taylor Swift and the rest left New Orleans wondering what had happened to two-time champion Kansas City Chiefs as they were steamrollered by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Read more on BBC

It’s already abundantly clear that Trump can intimidate, corrupt, steamroller or ignore aides, legislators, donors and journalists who tell him the truth.

Read more on Los Angeles Times