strongman
noun
strong·man
ˈstrȯŋ-ˌman 
: 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
Since then, authorities have gradually removed or sidelined several officials closely associated with the former strongman, moves that observers say reflect an effort by remaining power centers to consolidate control and stabilize the government’s institutional framework.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Yes, Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin strongman, had developed a taste for wielding Russia’s hard power.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Nor do strongmen have a pristine record as economic stewards.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The trouble, to paraphrase Adam Phillips, is that strongmen tend to bring out the strongman in us all.
—Emily Chamlee-Wright, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strongman
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Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Yes, Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin strongman, had developed a taste for wielding Russia’s hard power.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Nor do strongmen have a pristine record as economic stewards.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The trouble, to paraphrase Adam Phillips, is that strongmen tend to bring out the strongman in us all.
—Emily Chamlee-Wright, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Cite this Entry
“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strongman. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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