as in dictator
a person who uses power or authority in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way
a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account
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Recent Examples of strongman
After Russian strongman Ivan Drago beats Rocky’s best friend to death in an exhibition bout, Rocky moves to the Soviet Union to train, running in the snow and even climbing a mountain to outrun the demon on his back.
—
Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The last thing needed in Chicago, which isn’t as economically healthy as Washington was prior to Trump’s strongman maneuvers, is discouraging more people from patronizing bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as other attractions.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
But just as much as his role in the Ukraine war or the Middle East, his efforts at strongman diplomacy are another indication of the abrupt shift away from a postwar liberal world order in which institutions and international law—in theory if not practice—took precedence over pure might.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This backward-spooling collapse into strongman interventionism is the result of Congress’s baseline failure to shield its own constitutional powers.
—Chris Lehmann, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The last thing needed in Chicago, which isn’t as economically healthy as Washington was prior to Trump’s strongman maneuvers, is discouraging more people from patronizing bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as other attractions.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
But just as much as his role in the Ukraine war or the Middle East, his efforts at strongman diplomacy are another indication of the abrupt shift away from a postwar liberal world order in which institutions and international law—in theory if not practice—took precedence over pure might.
—Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This backward-spooling collapse into strongman interventionism is the result of Congress’s baseline failure to shield its own constitutional powers.
—Chris Lehmann, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strongman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongman
Noun
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Her party, the Brothers of Italy, was founded by followers of former dictator Benito Mussolini as a post-fascist movement following WWII.—
Dan Gooding
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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For Machado and the Venezuelan opposition, embracing a narrative in which Maduro is a drug lord, not just a dictator, is a bit of a gamble.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So, the politicians must do more than push back against the White House tyrant.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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And while the band's frontman Freddie Mercury only made it into his 40s, the song's question continues to haunt people—especially aging tyrants who fear that the icy hand of death is upon their shoulder and want far more time to ensure both national and personal glory.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongman. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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