strong-arm

[strawng-ahrm, strong-]

See more synonyms for strong-arm on Thesaurus.com

adjective

using, involving, or threatening the use of physical force or violence to gain an objective: strong-arm methods.

verb (used with object)

to use violent methods upon; assault.
to rob by force.
to coerce by threats or intimidation; bully: They strong-armed me into voting for the plan.

Origin of strong-arm

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for strong-arm

Contemporary Examples

While these strong-arm tactics have been criticized by some, the governor enjoys strong support from the local population.
The Town Determined to Stop Putin
Vijai Maheshwari
June 12, 2014
Jamie Dettmer recalls long lunches with the Iron Lady at the Savoy Hotel—the whisky, the flirting, and the strong-arm tactics.
The Margaret Thatcher I Knew
Jamie Dettmer
April 9, 2013
So why does the GOP think it can strong-arm the president into compromising on entitlements without first giving in on taxes?
Michael Tomasky on How Obama Shouldn’t Back Down Vs. the GOP
Michael Tomasky
November 27, 2012
The government has overcharged in this case,” he said, “to strong-arm a plea from my client.
Bradley Manning Awaits Army’s Decision on Whether to Court-Martial Him
Denver Nicks
December 22, 2011
But author Rula Jebreal says the strong-arm tactics cannot thwart a people committed to his ouster.
Assad's Move Against Facebook
Rula Jebreal
November 7, 2011

Historical Examples

Mutineers, convicts, strong-arm men, thieves—or just simply pirates.
The Wreck of the Titan
Morgan Robertson
You try any strong-arm stuff on me and I'll scream for help!
Shorty McCabe on the Job
Sewell Ford
For them, the strict letter of the law, backed up by a strong-arm squad, is the only controlling influence that they recognize.
Our Vanishing Wild Life
William T. Hornaday
Mebbe you spent it like a gent fer booze, mebbe you was foolish and went to some strong-arm shack and got rolled.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 1908
Various
The rest is likely to entail a considerable amount of strong-arm work, and I'd rather not have you around.
On Secret Service
William Nelson Taft

British Dictionary definitions for strong-arm

strong-arm

noun

(modifier) relating to or involving physical force or violencestrong-arm tactics

verb

(tr) to show violence towards

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

Word Origin and History for strong-arm

adj.

"using physical force," 1897, from noun phrase (c.1600), from strong (adj.) + arm (n.).

strong-arm

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}strong-arm

Examples from the Web for strong-arm

Contemporary Examples

While these strong-arm tactics have been criticized by some, the governor enjoys strong support from the local population.

Jamie Dettmer recalls long lunches with the Iron Lady at the Savoy Hotel—the whisky, the flirting, and the strong-arm tactics.

So why does the GOP think it can strong-arm the president into compromising on entitlements without first giving in on taxes?

The government has overcharged in this case,” he said, “to strong-arm a plea from my client.

But author Rula Jebreal says the strong-arm tactics cannot thwart a people committed to his ouster.

Historical Examples

Mutineers, convicts, strong-arm men, thieves—or just simply pirates.

You try any strong-arm stuff on me and I'll scream for help!

For them, the strict letter of the law, backed up by a strong-arm squad, is the only controlling influence that they recognize.

Mebbe you spent it like a gent fer booze, mebbe you was foolish and went to some strong-arm shack and got rolled.

The rest is likely to entail a considerable amount of strong-arm work, and I'd rather not have you around.

strong-arm

Word Origin and History for strong-arm

adj.

Origin of strong-arm