strongman

noun

strong·​man ˈstrȯŋ-ˌman How to pronounce strongman (audio)
Synonyms of strongmannext
: 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.
Analysts say the move deepens constitutional backsliding across the continent, where aging elites and military strongmen cling to power while fast-growing youth populations are mobilized for votes, not real influence. Farai Mutsaka, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026 The consumer backlash, which prompted Lululemon to issue an apology and scrub its campaign, is the latest example of how quickly Western brands can come unstuck in a country where nationalism has surged under strongman leader Xi Jinping. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 Obama’s foreign-policy low point was his regime change operation against Libyan strongman ruler Moammar Gadhafi. Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026 Fury outboxed strongman Eddie Hall en route to a majority decision win. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026 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 24 Jun. 2026.

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