STRONG-ARMED Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

strong-armed

verb

past tense of strong-arm

as in intimidated

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of strong-armed Only to see them, after winning elections, get strong-armed by the party, then offer lame excuses as to why. — Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 And if two media companies were strong-armed out of the deal, were their First Amendment rights violated? — Robertas Bakula, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strong-armed

Verb

Racketeers blackmailed companies and executives, threatened to disrupt shareholder meetings, or intimidated other shareholders to keep quiet.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Especially to the book-curious, who may feel intimidated stepping into a store.

— John Wenzel, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of intimidated

Verb

His descriptions of being bullied in high school for his sexuality resemble plotlines from Very Special Episodes of TV, and his relationship with his ailing father is similarly generic.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Yes, Stark has painted, or, more accurately, anodized, powder-coated, and otherwise bullied into submission just about everything to black.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of bullied

Verb

Douglas says his father’s behavior left him and his brother Joel frightened.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
But the more productive expansion has to do with character, especially as regards Carrie and her mother, who is not the deranged, abusive religious fanatic of previous versions, but an essentially loving parent frightened of the modern world.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of frightened

Verb

Doe alleges in her lawsuit that she was coerced into using drugs before the assault.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
They were coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement that prevented them from ever exposing the details of what happened, and at whose hands.

— Gretchen Carlson, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of coerced

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strong-armed

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“Strong-armed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strong-armed. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of strong-armed

verb

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