steamroller

steamroller — noun

IPA/ˈstiːmrəʊlə(r)/
KK[stˈimrˌolɚ]IPA/ˈstiːmrəʊlər/
  • steamrollersingular
  • steamrollersplural

1. a heavy road machine with a wide metal drum that rolls over fresh asphalt or gra

1.nounB2
Definition

a heavy road machine with a wide metal drum that rolls over fresh asphalt or gravel to leave the surface level and smooth.

Example

Workers sent the steamroller over the wet asphalt before reopening the lane.

steamroller + over fresh asphalt

Hao watched the steamroller flatten the new path through the park.

Common collocations
  • drive the steamroller
  • flatten fresh asphalt
  • move the steamroller back and forth
  • park the steamroller beside the site
Synonyms
  • road roller

    the more exact modern term for this construction vehicle

  • roller

    a shorter word that depends on context to show it means the road machine

  • compactor

    a broader construction term for machines that press material down

Usage Note

In everyday modern English, people often call any heavy road roller a steamroller, even when the machine is not powered by steam.

Common Mistakes

A steamroller dug a deep hole for the pipe.
An excavator dug a deep hole for the pipe.
A steamroller presses and smooths the ground; it does not dig it.

2. a person, group, or influence that gets its way by crushing resistance and leavi

2.nounC1
Definition

a person, group, or influence that gets its way by crushing resistance and leaving little room for opposition.

Example

With its huge majority, the party became a steamroller in parliament.

steamroller in politics

The chain store was a steamroller that pushed small shops off the street.

Common collocations
  • a political steamroller
  • a steamroller in parliament
  • become a steamroller
  • ignore every warning sign
Synonyms
  • juggernaut

    stresses huge size and unstoppable power, often of an organization or movement

  • bully

    usually names an aggressive person, not a large system or campaign

  • machine

    in politics, it can mean an organized group that drives results through

Antonyms
  • underdog

    someone or something with less power rather than overwhelming force

  • consensus-builder

    wins support by agreement instead of crushing objections

Usage Note

This sense is common in politics, business, and public debate. Distinguish it from sense 1, which names the literal road machine.

Common Mistakes

The team was a steamroller because it won by one point.
The team was a steamroller because it crushed every rival all season.
steamroller suggests overwhelming pressure, not a narrow win.

steamroller — verb

IPA/ˈstiːmˌrəʊ.lər/
KK[stˈimrˌolɚ]IPA/ˈstiːmˌroʊ.lɚ/

Word family

  • steamroll
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For forcing a result by sheer pressure, steamroller suggests rolling over resistance until there is almost no space left to object. Bulldoze is very close, but it often keeps a stronger image of blunt physical force or personal intimidation. Ram through is common when a bill, rule, or decision is pushed through a formal process despite protests. Strong-arm focuses more on threatening or pressuring people directly. Overwhelm can describe defeating someone by superior force, numbers, or emotion, so it is broader and less tied to forcing a specific decision. Choose steamroller when the key idea is crushing opposition and driving ahead anyway.

steamroller ↗bulldoze ↗ram through ↗strong-arm ↗overwhelm ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • steamroller majority
  • steamroller tactics
  • steamroller campaign

Phrases

  • be steamrollered into doing something
  • steamroller a bill through

Prepositions

  • steamroller through opposition
  • steamroller into dropping a complaint

Etymology

English

The word first named the heavy road machine that rolled over a surface to press it flat. From that image, English later developed figurative noun and verb uses for people, groups, or actions that crush opposition and keep moving forward.

First known use

1863

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb