enforcer
noun
en-\
Definition of enforcer
1 : one that enforces
2a : a violent criminal employed by a crime syndicate especially : hit man sense 1
b : player (as in ice hockey) known for rough play and fighting
Examples of enforcer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mr Xi, by contrast, is trying to revive the party as an enforcer of morality and taste. — The Economist, "China wages war on apps offering news and jokes," 19 Apr. 2018 Workers under police protection painted over a mural depicting the slain gang enforcer Nidal Rabih in Berlin last month. — Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, "An Ice-Cream Truck Slaying, Party Drugs and Real-Estate Kings: Ethnic Clans Clash in Berlin’s Underworld," 15 Oct. 2018 Mr Mnangagwa, now 75, was Mr Mugabe’s long-serving chief enforcer, including during the outrageous poll in 2008. — The Economist, "Can foreign observers keep Zimbabwe’s election clean?," 28 June 2018 The timing of the Shulaya enterprise arrests came as a particular affront to Khurtsidze, the boxing enforcer. — Garrett Graff, Longreads, "A Vor Never Sleeps," 5 June 2018 In this November’s election, voters will choose between two candidates for governor: DeWine and his predecessor as the state’s top law enforcer, Richard Cordray. — James Mcnair, Cincinnati.com, "Mike DeWine contributors get big contracts from Ohio Attorney General's Office," 25 June 2018 Only in rare, principled circumstances may our law enforcers decline to defend and enforce the law. — Cristian Farias, Daily Intelligencer, "On Obamacare, the Department of Justice Is Standing Against the Rule of Law," 8 June 2018 Berlin also wants the IMF, a tough enforcer of economic overhauls in indebted countries, to be part of the post-bailout monitoring. — Nektaria Stamouli, WSJ, "Final Greek Bailout Talks Kick Off," 27 Apr. 2018 Means, prosecutors said, was an enforcer for Indianapolis drug dealer, Richard Grundy III. — Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, "Alleged Grundy Crew hit man John Means sentenced to six years for gun possession," 13 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enforcer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
12 Dec 2018
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The first known use of enforcer was in 1580
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