as in dictator
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of strongman
This outcome would resemble what happened in Hungary after Viktor Orbán, another nationalist strongman, was elected as Prime Minister, in 2010.
—
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Muscle Man is a deeply ironic book, creating a vast chasm between Harold’s strongman self-image and his infantile powers of self-expression.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
See the whistlers mimicking birdsong on Vogelpfeifer whistles, test your strength at the Hau den Lukas strongman game and munch on the traditional Lebkuchen gingerbread cookies.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
For decades, the strongmen had been extremely close, with Hun Sen appointing Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government following the 2006 putsch.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Muscle Man is a deeply ironic book, creating a vast chasm between Harold’s strongman self-image and his infantile powers of self-expression.
—Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
See the whistlers mimicking birdsong on Vogelpfeifer whistles, test your strength at the Hau den Lukas strongman game and munch on the traditional Lebkuchen gingerbread cookies.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
For decades, the strongmen had been extremely close, with Hun Sen appointing Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government following the 2006 putsch.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongman
Noun
-
Instead, Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won on Friday with the committee citing her fight for democracy against President Nicolas Maduro who is considered a dictator.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Machado, who is the founder of the pro-democracy movement Sumate, and a key opponent of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, is currently living in hiding somewhere in Venezuela following threats to her life.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The light historical touch is no doubt necessary for a series trying to sell its viewers on a love story between a modern protagonist and a character originally based on a real-life historical tyrant.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Reynolds is a tetchy tyrant, who, enabled by his sister, Cyril (Lesley Manville), has embraced a need to have things just so as a means of warding off vulnerability.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongman. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share