steamroller

1 of 2

noun

steam·​roll·​er ˈstēm-ˌrō-lər 

1

: a steam-driven road roller

broadly : road roller

2

: a crushing force especially when ruthlessly applied to overcome opposition

steamroller

2 of 2

verb

steam·​roll·​er ˈstēm-ˌrō-lər 

variants or steamroll

ˈstēm-ˌrōl 

steamrollered or steamrolled; steamrollering or steamrolling; steamrollers or steamrolls

transitive verb

1

: to overwhelm usually by greatly superior force

steamroller the opposition

2

: to bring or advance by overwhelming force or pressure

steamrollered the bill through the legislature

intransitive verb

: to move or proceed with irresistible force

Examples of steamroller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

No, there hasn't been the steamroller combo of quality and box office that was Barbenheimer. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024

In Austin Powers, one of my favorite jokes is the slow-motion steamroller chase. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

The title race might not be over, and Manchester City’s ability to steamroller teams in the second half of the season means that few are writing Guardiola’s men off just yet, but there are suggestions that the last six results are more than just a blip. —Steve Price, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

The European pitch to Trump not to throw Ukraine under Putin’s nationalist drive to steamroller former Soviet states into submission is undoubtedly going to be heated. —Cnn Staff, CNN, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1879, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

steamroller

noun

steam·​roll·​er

ˈstēm-ˈrō-lər

: a machine formerly driven by steam that has wide heavy rollers for pressing down and smoothing roads