Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Using physical force or coercion.
  • transitive verb To use physical force or coercion against.
  • transitive verb To rob by force.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Bullying; extortionate.
  • adjective Coercive, employing force.
  • verb To bully; to intimidate.
  • verb To coerce, to muscle.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb use physical force against
  • adjective impelled by physical force especially against resistance
  • verb handle roughly
  • verb be bossy towards

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

strong + arm

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Examples

  • A similar adjusted and rationalized morality has allowed bribery, drugs, gambling, strong-arm tactics, cheating, stealing, and lies to become a large part of the world of sports.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

  • It could have been the strong-arm tactics Danny used in his labor consulting firm.

    Kill the Irishman Rick Porrello 2011

  • Bribery, drugs, gambling, strong-arm tactics, cheating, stealing, and lies make for a full day in the life of a gang or organized crime member.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

  • Bribery, drugs, gambling, strong-arm tactics, cheating, stealing, and lies make for a full day in the life of a gang or organized crime member.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

  • Bribery, gambling, and other strong-arm tactics make for a full day in the life of a gang member.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

  • A similar adjusted and rationalized morality has allowed bribery, drugs, gambling, strong-arm tactics, cheating, stealing, and lies to become a large part of the world of sports.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

  • Although the offer is being depicted as voluntary, euro-zone bond markets could still be unsettled if a large proportion of investors reject the offer and Greece is forced to strong-arm them into the deal.

    Greece Passes Sweeping Cuts Alkman Granitsas 2012

  • Ms. MacKinnon deploys the phrase "digital bonapartism" to describe the policy of strong-arm leaders who use the Internet to seek legitimacy, for instance by crowdsourcing input on new laws or using pro-government bloggers to slur out-of-favor officials.

    Handmaidens to Censorship Luke Allnutt 2012

  • Teamsters President Jim Hoffa said Republicans' fines amounted to "strong-arm" tactics, and predicted a "tremendous backlash" from constituents if the bill is signed into law.

    Indiana Right-to-Work Bill Advances Jack Nicas 2012

  • Bribery, gambling, and other strong-arm tactics make for a full day in the life of a gang member.

    Tom Gerdy: The Death of the Student Athlete Tom Gerdy 2011

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