strongman

noun

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

Synonyms of strongman

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Examples of strongman in a Sentence

a Latin-American strongman who basically treated his nation's coffers as his personal bank account
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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.
No one loses millions by criticizing dead Nazis, or most other political strongmen for that matter. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026 The Financial Times’ chief foreign affairs commentator explores a geopolitical twilight in which the three nations with the largest nuclear arsenals are led by strongmen, allowing autocrats to exploit new gaps in the global political order. — Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Reasons for the election victory include a rising disdain for strongman leaders and a preference for the students’ style of grassroots consensus-making. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Oct. 2026 Vucic’s downfall mirrors that of Hungary’s Orban There are strong parallels with Hungary, where strongman Viktor Orbán was defeated earlier this year. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026 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

Rhymes for strongman

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Browse Nearby Words

strongly
strongman
strong mayor
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Cite this Entry

“Strongman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strongman. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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