strong-armers
Thugs using muscle
Strong-armers are people who use force, threats, or intimidation to achieve their goals.
The term typically describes those who coerce others through physical aggression or bullying tactics: The loan shark sent his strong-armers to collect the debt.
It can also apply figuratively to anyone who uses heavy-handed pressure rather than persuasion.
Those who impose obedience
- thugsViolent criminals
- goonsHired intimidators
- heaviesMenacing tough guys
- muscleContractile body tissue
bruisers · henchmen · gangsters · mobsters · racketeers · loan sharks · hitmen · mafioso
Pressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- extortionObtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
ultimatums · shakedowns · pressure · arm-twisting · force · duress · menace · bullying
Hostile or attacking behavior
- violenceHarmful physical force
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
belligerence · combativeness · viciousness · ferocity · ruthlessness · mercilessness · domination · control
Extortion through threatened violence
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- loan sharkingIllegal lending at excessive interest
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- shakedownsForced extractions of money
smuggling · gambling · underworld · syndicate · cartel · mafia · gang · turf
Those who suffer harm
- marksVisible signs or grades
- debtorsThose who owe money
- shopkeepersRetail establishment proprietors
- businessownersThose controlling commercial enterprises
witnesses · informants · rivals · competitors · dissidents · whistleblowers · vulnerable · defenseless
enforcers
Those who impose obedience
muscle · bruisers · henchmen · gangsters · mobsters · racketeers · loan sharks · hitmen · mafioso · hoodlums
coercion
Pressured compliance through threats
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- extortionObtaining through threats
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
threats · ultimatums · shakedowns · pressure · arm-twisting · force · duress · menace · bullying · harassment
aggression
Hostile or attacking behavior
- violenceHarmful physical force
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
hostility · belligerence · combativeness · viciousness · ferocity · ruthlessness · mercilessness · domination · control · manipulation
protection rackets
Extortion through threatened violence
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- loan sharkingIllegal lending at excessive interest
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
shakedowns · smuggling · gambling · underworld · syndicate · cartel · mafia · gang · turf · territory
victims
Those who suffer harm
- marksVisible signs or grades
- debtorsThose who owe money
- shopkeepersRetail establishment proprietors
businessowners · witnesses · informants · rivals · competitors · dissidents · whistleblowers · vulnerable · defenseless · powerless
strong-armerspersuaders
Those who change minds
negotiators · diplomats · mediators · peacemakers · conciliators
strong-armerscollaborators
People who work jointly
cooperators · facilitators · bridge-builders · appeasers · accommodators
strong-armerspushovers
Those easily persuaded
doormats · yielders · capitulators · accommodators · peaceniks
strong, strength, strengthen, strongly, strengths, strong-armed, strengthened, strengthening, strong-arm