as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
it took some arm-twisting, but they eventually agreed to make a donation
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Recent Examples of arm-twisting
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
The president's arm-twisting ahead of a House Rules Committee meeting currently set for 1am Wednesday puts heavy pressure on GOP holdouts on a range of sticking points.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 May 2025
Thune has also tried to describe Trump’s arm-twisting of Zelensky in nobler language.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
After a long day of arm-twisting and internal party clashes, House Republicans on Tuesday narrowly passed their plan to advance President Donald Trump's legislative agenda.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
Some arm-twisting to get the big stars to sign up and buy in.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
The president's arm-twisting ahead of a House Rules Committee meeting currently set for 1am Wednesday puts heavy pressure on GOP holdouts on a range of sticking points.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 May 2025
Thune has also tried to describe Trump’s arm-twisting of Zelensky in nobler language.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
After a long day of arm-twisting and internal party clashes, House Republicans on Tuesday narrowly passed their plan to advance President Donald Trump's legislative agenda.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arm-twisting
Noun
-
For those who do know him, the optics are less about political pressure and more about simple, unadulterated pride.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Mexico enters the 2026 World Cup with the excitement and pressure of co-hosting the tournament, eager to finally break its long-standing barrier of reaching the Round of 16.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This might take a series of browbeating prompts, but that’s not a big deal.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Given a series of intra-quarter checks around build rates and promotional activity that suggested strong demand, constraints appear have pushed some sale into the Dec qtr with the company expecting iPhone rev to be up ‘double-digits’ with constraints spilling into the Dec qtr as well.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
31 Oct. 2025
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The hope is that, armed with new technology, that decline of foreign aid serves a rallying call that compels African countries to forge their own paths, free from the constraints of aid dependency and external policy pressures.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The idea of bullying states and cities into following orders from the president is a key part of the text, says David Graham, a journalist for The Atlantic who also wrote a book on the project.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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The results are similar, with each former employee’s clique now bullying Robert in protest.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But now, having reined in his recklessness and compulsion to constantly create and force plays, the Patriots have developed an elite prospect into a promising pro passer.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Where does this compulsion stem from?—
Nina Mesfin,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
British pubs can be intimidating for visitors.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2025 case related to the letters he is accused of sending from jail, Scott is charged with one count of misappropriating a person's identity to harm their reputation, intimidating a witness, and two counts of felony bail jumping.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And with the 2026 midterms looming, some experts worry Guard troops could even be used as a tool of systemic voter suppression and intimidation.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Church members reported an uptick in harassment and intimidation.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This is subtle character work that, as described on the page, might seem hectoring or prescriptive.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arm-twisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arm-twisting. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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