strong-arm
Force through intimidation
Strong-arm means using physical force or intimidation to achieve something.
As an adjective, it describes coercive tactics: strong-arm methods, strong-arm robbery.
As a verb, to strong-arm someone is to bully or coerce them into compliance: They strong-armed the shopkeeper into paying protection money.
The term evokes thuggish pressure rather than persuasion.
Violent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- rough upAssault without severe injury
- manhandleTreat with physical force
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
brawl · scuffle · pummel · brutalize · thug · goon · henchman · muscle
Obtain by intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- compelForce to act
- forceStrength or compulsion
- intimidateInstill fear to control
threaten · bully · extort · blackmail · browbeat · dragoon · muscle · lean on
Favoring absolute control
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
oppression · regime · junta · despot · crackdown · martial law · iron fist · police state
Theft by threat
- muggingRobbery with violence
- stickupArmed robbery
- heistOrganized large-scale theft
- carjackingViolent vehicle theft
hijacking · mugger · bandit · robber · pirate · holdup man · highway robbery · smash-and-grab
assault
Violent offensive act
- attackAggressive act against another
- rough upAssault without severe injury
- manhandleTreat with physical force
beat · brawl · scuffle · pummel · brutalize · thug · goon · henchman · muscle · enforcer
coerce
Obtain by intimidation
intimidate · threaten · bully · extort · blackmail · browbeat · dragoon · muscle · lean on · squeeze
authoritarian
Favoring absolute control
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- dictatorshipUnchecked single-ruler government
- autocracyRule by one
totalitarian · oppression · regime · junta · despot · crackdown · martial law · iron fist · police state · repression
holdup
Theft by threat
carjacking · hijacking · mugger · bandit · robber · pirate · holdup man · highway robbery · smash-and-grab · raid
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- sales tacticsupselling, cross-selling, hard sell, soft sell, high pressure
- aggressive tacticsblitz, blitzkrieg, frontal assault, offensive, attack mode
- power tacticspower play, power grab, hardball, playing hardball, arm-twisting
- extortionextort, shakedown, shake down, blackmail letter, ransom
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing