enforcer

noun

en·​forc·​er in-ˈfȯr-sər How to pronounce enforcer (audio)
en-
Synonyms of enforcernext
1
: one that enforces
2
a
: a violent criminal employed by a crime syndicate
especially : hit man sense 1
b
: a player (as in ice hockey) known for rough play and fighting

Examples of enforcer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Oilers will get a bottom-six forward who is both an enforcer and an energy magnet. Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 As secretary, Noem oversaw the start of a hiring surge to bring on thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the proliferation of Border Patrol agents as enforcers throughout the country. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026 Stripped of his enforcers, Syria’s pro-Iran dictator, Bashar al-Assad, soon fell as well. Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 This impression, however, was always complicated, and as time passed, the enforcers started to look more like enablers. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enforcer

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enforcer was in 1580

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Cite this Entry

“Enforcer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enforcer. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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