strong-arm

1 of 2

adjective

: having or using undue force

strong-arm

2 of 2

verb

strong-armed; strong-arming; strong-arms

transitive verb

1
a
: to use force on : assault
2
: to rob by force

Examples of strong-arm in a Sentence

Verb developers trying to strong-arm homeowners into selling their houses at below-market prices
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
President Donald Trump‘s eye-catching foreign policy at the start of his second term is more than just a series of fanciful, off-the-cuff suggestions and is rather an attempt to strong-arm unwilling leaders to the negotiating table, insiders say. Christian Datoc, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Jan. 2025 The biggest threat facing the pair is senior MI6 official Jim Richardson (Hugh Bonneville), who has been keeping tabs on the Sudanese, and sees in Martian’s love for Samia an opportunity to both humiliate and strong-arm his former ally into sharing CIA secrets. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
Don’t try and strong-arm anyone into supporting you, because that certainly won’t leave anyone impressed. Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2023 On Thursday Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne invoked Article 49 of the French constitution, which enabled the Macron government to strong-arm a bill through the National Assembly without a vote. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for strong-arm 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1897, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of strong-arm was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near strong-arm

Cite this Entry

“Strong-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strong-arm. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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