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
Eric Stephens, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Trump seeks redistricting revenge in Indiana The Hoosier State is also in the spotlight because a handful of Republican legislators resisted Trump's arm-twisting to change their congressional boundaries in the House.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 5 May 2026
Secretly recorded telephone conversations of President Lyndon B. Johnson during his years in the White House reveal LBJ was a blunt, vulgar, scheming politician who was skilled at using a blend of bullying, puffery and arm-twisting to get his way.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2026
Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 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
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
Noun
Call it a figurative arm-twisting.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Trump seeks redistricting revenge in Indiana The Hoosier State is also in the spotlight because a handful of Republican legislators resisted Trump's arm-twisting to change their congressional boundaries in the House.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 5 May 2026
Secretly recorded telephone conversations of President Lyndon B. Johnson during his years in the White House reveal LBJ was a blunt, vulgar, scheming politician who was skilled at using a blend of bullying, puffery and arm-twisting to get his way.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2026
Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arm-twisting
Noun
-
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools faced mounting pressure to raise test scores, creating a fundamental tension between learning time and and play time.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Turbulent emotions can stir up physical stress when the Leo moon puts pressure on Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
His process of doing so involved disparaging his accusers, browbeating people and institutions that no longer wanted to be associated with him, and refusing to accept a path that precluded a return to being a public figure.—
Elizabeth Spiers,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Analysts have suggested a vote from Waller in favor of interest rate cuts, aligning with the president’s browbeating demands for lower borrowing costs—could be seen as a bellwether for his candidacy.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
My only entry point was Kendrick's vote of confidence, more notable for the fact that the honor had thus far gone only to his cousin Baby Keem (who this year released a great record beholden to event-album constraints).—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
16 June 2026
-
Prices can sit relatively quiet for months or even years before a surge in investor demand, supply constraints or economic uncertainty sends them sharply higher.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The fifth installment tackles tech, friendship, and bullying through a memorable adventure.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
17 June 2026
-
Warsh comes in as the handpicked nominee of a president who has been bullying the Fed for years for lower rates.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Writers write from compulsion, from necessity.—
Walt Hunter,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
For me, one of these compulsions ended up being using the tracking app.—
Sara Rowe Mount,
Parents,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
While the outdoors can feel intimidating to many consumers, Van Diggelen said genuine engagement helps make the category more approachable.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
-
Think of it as the automotive equivalent of the family mastiff—intimidating in appearance, ferocious when required, but great with kids.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
Noun
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There’s the section of Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando where approximately 500 Klansmen, led by officers on horseback, walked slowly in a long line intended as a clear act of intimidation against voters.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 June 2026
-
When multiple employees independently describe experiences involving intimidation or retaliation after voicing concerns, those claims deserve serious attention.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Pratt was just another angry New Yorker hectoring calumnies against all forms of authority.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
Perhaps more meaningfully, the message is the antithesis of a contrived political pitch or a hectoring sermon.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arm-twisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arm-twisting. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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