as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
it took some arm-twisting, but they eventually agreed to make a donation
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Recent Examples of arm-twisting
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Some arm-twisting to get the big stars to sign up and buy in.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
The president's arm-twisting ahead of a House Rules Committee meeting currently set for 1am Wednesday puts heavy pressure on GOP holdouts on a range of sticking points.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 May 2025
Thune has also tried to describe Trump’s arm-twisting of Zelensky in nobler language.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Some arm-twisting to get the big stars to sign up and buy in.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
The president's arm-twisting ahead of a House Rules Committee meeting currently set for 1am Wednesday puts heavy pressure on GOP holdouts on a range of sticking points.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 May 2025
Thune has also tried to describe Trump’s arm-twisting of Zelensky in nobler language.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arm-twisting
Noun
-
Signing with such a star-laden team tempers some of the pressure that usually comes with being the new big-money free agent in town.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Furthermore, silver mining is inherently cyclical, and cost pressures, equipment downtime, or regulatory challenges in Mexico may hinder future earnings.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This might take a series of browbeating prompts, but that’s not a big deal.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At the same time, access remains shaped by regulatory thresholds, investor eligibility rules, and platform-specific constraints.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
20 Jan. 2026
-
But in the domestic arena, governance by dealmaking faces serious constraints.—
Yuval Levin,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The girlfriend of a 17-year-old boy who was shot and killed after leaving school on Thursday afternoon in west suburban Cicero said the attack was the result of bullying.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Military might and bullying never made any country great.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His whole body shook, intimidating everyone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
With the season on the line, the 49ers locked in and defied the intimidating circumstances yet again.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As a pattern of intimidation, isolation, humiliation and controlling behavior, coercive control can be as damaging as physical abuse.—
Oona Metz,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation, and this verdict sends the message that attempts to substitute violence for expressing one’s opinion has no place in our communities and will be met with federal consequences.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One senior official who has participated in the calls told us that the intensity and urgency often veer into hectoring.—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arm-twisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arm-twisting. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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