strong-arm

strong-arm — adjective

IPA/ˈstrɒŋ ɑːm/
IPA/ˈstrɔːŋ ɑːrm/

1. describes behaviour or methods that rely on physical force, threats, or intimida

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes behaviour or methods that rely on physical force, threats, or intimidation rather than persuasion, negotiation, or legal process — for example, sending armed guards to remove tenants, or using threats to silence opposition.

Example

The landlord hired a strong-arm squad to force the Ortega family out of their apartment.

collocation: strong-arm squad

Strong-arm tactics against striking workers drew sharp criticism from members of Parliament.

collocation: strong-arm tactics

Common collocations
  • strong-arm tactics
  • strong-arm methods
  • strong-arm approach
  • strong-arm squad
  • strong-arm team
  • strong-arm behaviour
Synonyms
  • coercive

    more neutral and formal; 'coercive measures' is common in legal/political contexts

  • heavy-handed

    less organised; suggests clumsy or excessive force rather than systematic intimidation

  • bullying

    focuses on the personal, repeated nature of the intimidation, often in schools or workplaces

Antonyms
  • gentle

    implies kindness and mildness, the opposite of using force

  • diplomatic

    favours negotiation and tact rather than threats

Grammar Patterns

strong-arm + noun (tactics / methods / squad)

Usage Note

Almost always used attributively (before a noun). Common noun partners include 'tactics', 'methods', 'behaviour', 'approach', 'squad', and 'team'.

Common Mistakes

She used strong-arm discipline to finish the project on time.
She used strict discipline to finish the project on time.
'Strong-arm' implies force or threats against people, not self-discipline or determination about a task.
He is a strong-arm manager who always gets results.
He is a tough manager who always gets results.
'Strong-arm' suggests unethical or violent coercion, not merely being strict or demanding.

strong-arm — verb

IPA/ˈstrɒŋ.ɑːm/
IPA/ˈstrɑːŋ.ɑːrm/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Strong-arm, coerce, intimidate, bully, and pressure all describe making someone act against their will, but they differ in strength and method. Strong-arm suggests the use or threat of physical force, often in an organised or gang-like way — a landlord might strong-arm tenants out of a building with hired thugs. Coerce is broader and more formal, covering psychological, financial, or legal pressure; a government might coerce citizens into paying bribes. Intimidate focuses specifically on inspiring fear as the mechanism — for example, intimidating a witness to stay silent. Bully implies repeated, personal harassment, typically in a school or workplace setting. Pressure is the mildest of the five, meaning persistent urging without any violence; a manager might pressure an employee to work overtime. Choose strong-arm when the method involves actual or threatened physical force.

coerce ↗intimidate ↗bully ↗pressure ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'strong' (from Old English 'strang', meaning powerful) and 'arm' (from Old English 'earm', the upper limb). The figurative use of 'strong arm' to mean 'physical force' appeared in American English in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, the hyphenated 'strong-arm' was being used as an adjective to describe coercion backed by violence, and soon after as a verb meaning to force someone through threats or physical pressure.