straight-arm
noun
: an act or instance of warding off a person or thing by pushing with the palm of the hand with the arm fully extended from the shoulder and the elbow locked
—often used figuratively
… rebuffed the President's grandfatherly advances with a straight-arm.—
E. M. Swift
E. M. Swiftcalled also stiff-arm
straight-arm
verb
Examples of straight-arm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Get into a straight-arm plank with your shoulders directly over your wrists.
—
Mallory Creveling,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
When someone offers a straight-arm handshake, creating more distance between him or her and the other person, it’s processed as distrust, aloofness, or reserve.
—
Carol Kinsey Goman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
His straight-arm gesture sparked widespread backlash, with critics accusing Musk of mimicking a Nazi salute and some accusing him of harboring Nazi-adjacent views.
—
Amanda Castro,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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Mallory Creveling,
Health,
22 Oct. 2025
When someone offers a straight-arm handshake, creating more distance between him or her and the other person, it’s processed as distrust, aloofness, or reserve.
—
Carol Kinsey Goman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
His straight-arm gesture sparked widespread backlash, with critics accusing Musk of mimicking a Nazi salute and some accusing him of harboring Nazi-adjacent views.
—
Amanda Castro,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straight-arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straight-arm. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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