strongman

noun

strong·​man ˈstrȯŋ-ˌman How to pronounce strongman (audio)
: one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods

Examples of strongman in a Sentence

a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Paid Program Matt Reynolds is a former professional strongman, gym owner, successful strength coach, podcast host. Matt Reynolds, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 In her ethnographic study of Jamaican gangs, Jaffe argues against seeing the neighborhood strongmen—or dons—as primarily violent, exploitative gangsters. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 Now, women are at the center of efforts to give the country lasting protections against the whims of strongmen. Pamodi Waravita, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2025 Known for his admiration of authoritarian strongmen, a one-on-one summit with Putin would play into Trump’s image of world leadership. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strongman

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strongman was in 1859

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Cite this Entry

“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strongman. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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