strong-arm
Americanadjective
verb (used with object)
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to use violent methods upon; assault.
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to rob by force.
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to coerce by threats or intimidation; bully.
They strong-armed me into voting for the plan.
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of strong-arm
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30
Explanation
To strong-arm someone is to force them to do something. When you strong-arm your sister into getting out of your bedroom, you physically push her out the door. Bullies strong-arm smaller kids into handing over their lunch money, and powerful countries strong-arm weaker ones into cooperating with treaties and alliances. In the second example, a figurative kind of strong-arming is going on; there is no physical action, just the implied threat of negative consequences. You can also use this word as an adjective: "Your strong-arm tactics don't scare me!"
Vocabulary lists containing strong-arm
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He can, in certain circumstances, strong-arm the world into realigning with his interests while sidestepping the tripwires that his predecessors worried would bring them down.
From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026
Ian Paul, a conservative theologian and a member of the General Synod, denies that this amounted to "strong-arm tactics".
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025
Freston’s unusual and messianic marketing department got megastars like David Bowie and Mick Jagger to scream, “I Want My MTV!”—a campaign designed to strong-arm cable systems into carrying the fledgling station.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025
The fatigue grows more each time the Chiefs — who are playing in their fifth Super Bowl in the last six years — strong-arm AFC rivals Baltimore or Buffalo away from long-awaited breakthroughs.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2025
When Arthur had been unable to take a strong-arm castle by assault, he had caused tunnels to be dug under selected parts of the wafl.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
