strong-arming 1 of 2

noun

as in bullying

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strong-arming

2 of 2

verb

present participle of strong-arm
as in intimidating
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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-arming
Verb
Tech leaders have quietly backed Anthropic, saying that AI isn’t ready for some weapons and that strong-arming companies is counterproductive and antidemocratic. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 Hezbollah, for the longest time, was strong-arming other parties, and they are accused of assassinating a former Prime Minister. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strong-arming
  1. bullying
  2. intimidating
  3. threat
  4. coercing
  5. bulldozing
  6. frenzy
  7. revolt
  8. upheaval
Noun
  • In 2024, Djerf’s came under fire after 11 anonymous employees accused the influencer and founder of mistreatment in the workplace, including fat-shaming and bullying.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Rodriquez said her daughter began facing bullying and body image issues, using filters on the apps to alter her face.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of bullying
Verb
  • Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese used the term paper tiger to describe someone who appears powerful and intimidating but ultimately poses little threat.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Regan has been accused of threatening and intimidating women who worked for the union’s parent organization, and of physically assaulting one, according to reporting by The Times.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of intimidating
Noun
  • Altman was careful to say that Astra, OpenAI’s current flagship model, does not pose an existential threat.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Jamal allegedly promised to protect the Feeding Our Future operatives against the threat of prosecution, took their money, and then turned some of them over to investigators.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of threat
Verb
  • Playing that cat, a work camp warden coercing Hawke’s character into smuggling gold through the wilderness, is none other than Russell Crowe.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But in the past, these efforts were largely aimed at threatening or coercing Washington to act in their favor.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of coercing
Noun
  • The demands to stop the bulldozing and construction of areas in the Big Bend region of Texas are continuing, despite a pause in the work.
    — Ken Molestina, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Outside, the ceaseless roar of jackhammering and bulldozing went on as the ballroom, challenged by lawsuits and protected by that titanium fencing, took shape.
    — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
Definition of bulldozing
Noun
  • But sports markets are the main drivers of the prediction frenzy.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The sports drink, launched in 2022 by two of YouTube’s biggest stars, manufactured a frenzy.
    — Keren Novack, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of frenzy
Noun
  • Moving pictures are part of the revolt Asco also had an interest in film.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • His teeth desert his mouth; his digestion revolts; his heart appears frequently to announce its forthcoming resignation.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of revolt
Noun
  • Drawing on home movies, street-protest footage, newspapers, sketches, photographs, and recorded voices, Ahangarani intertwines her life story with more than four decades of political upheaval.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
  • At a time of massive industry upheaval, most observers believe that the company will have to lay off droves of workers to bring its costs down.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of upheaval

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Cite this Entry

“Strong-arming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strong-arming. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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