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
The serial killer, dropping his aw-shucks persona to strong-arm Lady Raven into giving him an escape route, practically sneering at her fear. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024 Three men – ages 22, 19 and 18 – and a 17-year-old boy, all of Gilroy, were arrested between Aug. 16 and Oct. 3 on suspicion of strong-arm robbery, Shih said. Jason Green, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!