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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strongman
By turning over global order to strongmen running powerful countries, perhaps the world could enjoy relative peace and stability instead of conflict and disorder.
—
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister who has cracked down on immigration and put in place policies to raise birthrates, has been the most widely and openly admired of these European strongmen.
—Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In some cases, strongmen crave popular support, so the popular will can sustains autocratic stability.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 May 2025
In a historic moment characterized by autocrats and would-be autocrats, Francis was the antithesis of a strongman.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister who has cracked down on immigration and put in place policies to raise birthrates, has been the most widely and openly admired of these European strongmen.
—Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
In some cases, strongmen crave popular support, so the popular will can sustains autocratic stability.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 1 May 2025
In a historic moment characterized by autocrats and would-be autocrats, Francis was the antithesis of a strongman.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongman
Noun
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Satellite imagery captured what remained of a mangled 5,000-ton North Korean naval destroyer damaged during its launch ceremony this week, leaving the country's dictator distraught.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2025
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After the dictator fell, it was made Paraguay’s official language, along with Spanish.—
Graciela Mochkofsky,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Noun
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Serena's reluctant to put a target on her husband's head, so June happily reminds her that Gabriel's a tyrant not fit to raise Noah.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 May 2025
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By the end of the finale episode, Kingpin has essentially taken control of the entire city and the Punisher is kidnapped by the corrupt police but Daredevil is assembling his own army to combat the tyrant.—
Skyler Trepel,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongman. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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