as in to intimidate
to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats
developers trying to strong-arm homeowners into selling their houses at below-market prices
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Recent Examples of strong-arm
The White House’s push to suppress the Smithsonian’s programming is part of an attempt to strong-arm influential cultural institutions and, in turn, culture itself.
—
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Trump over the weekend shook the NATO alliance by threatening tariffs on Europe to strong-arm his aim of taking over Greenland.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Democrats’ anger has been building all year, as immigration enforcement agents have used what critics say are strong-arm tactics to find undocumented immigrants.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
On Thursday Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne invoked Article 49 of the French constitution, which enabled the Macron government to strong-arm a bill through the National Assembly without a vote.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for strong-arm
Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Trump over the weekend shook the NATO alliance by threatening tariffs on Europe to strong-arm his aim of taking over Greenland.
—Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
The Democrats’ anger has been building all year, as immigration enforcement agents have used what critics say are strong-arm tactics to find undocumented immigrants.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
On Thursday Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne invoked Article 49 of the French constitution, which enabled the Macron government to strong-arm a bill through the National Assembly without a vote.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for strong-arm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strong-arm
Verb
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The recent dispatch of thousands of immigration agents to Minneapolis has exacerbated Democratic concerns Trump might use them or even federal troops to intimidate voters in the name of law and order in Democratic-leaning cities.—
Carl P. Leubsdorf,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
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The Lord of the Rings Sauron’s Helmet Build an impressive replica of Sauron’s intimidating helmet, complete with a display stand, name plaque, and a minifigure clutching the One Ring.—
Brittany Anas,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There was a natural legacy to build on in Detroit—not only the Bad Boys of the nineteen-eighties and early nineties but also the bullying team that won the title in 2004.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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Weinstein and his lawyers argued that the retrial verdict was tainted by infighting and bullying among jurors.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2022, a woman who was 38 weeks pregnant in the Vermilion County Jail objected when officials attempted to coerce her into scheduling an induction, according to the ACLU of Illinois.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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While this is a possibility, there is a major problem—the same weapons and training that can be used to protect citizens can also be used to coerce and prey upon them.—
Abigail R. Hall,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strong-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strong-arm. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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