strongman

noun

strong·​man ˈstrȯŋ-ˌman How to pronounce strongman (audio)
: one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods

Examples of strongman in a Sentence

a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account
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.
The effort is widely seen as an attempt to topple Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, for whom the Department of Justice has offered a $50 million reward. Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025 The president valorized autocratic strongmen, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Xi. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025 The effort, part of a broader campaign by the United States to remove Maduro from power, ultimately failed, leaving the strongman in control of the oil-rich nation. Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 But China has not made such statements, and there’s still a risk that the two strongmen can’t see eye to eye or a rogue comment throws off the delicate detente. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strongman

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strongman was in 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strongman. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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