Adjacent Words

strong-arm definitions

	Tweet

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: impelled by physical force especially against resistance; "forcible entry"; "a real cop would get physical"; "strong-arm tactics" [syn: forcible, physical, strong-arm] v
1: handle roughly; "He was strong-armed by the policemen"
2: be bossy towards; "Her big brother always bullied her when she was young" [syn: strong-arm, bully, browbeat, bullyrag, ballyrag, boss around, hector, push around]
3: use physical force against; "They strong-armed me when I left the restaurant"

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Date: 1897 having or using undue force II. transitive verb Date: 1903 1. a. to use force on ; assault b. bully, intimidate 2. to rob by force

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If you refer to someone's behaviour as strong-arm tactics or methods, you disapprove of it because it consists of using threats or force in order to achieve something. The money has been recovered without resorting to verbal abuse or strong-arm tactics... ADJ: ADJ n [disapproval]