strong-arming
Bullying into compliance
Strong-arming is the use of force, threats, or intimidation to compel someone to do something.
The term evokes physical coercion—twisting someone's arm—but applies equally to psychological pressure or bullying tactics: The company was accused of strong-arming suppliers into lowering prices.
Politicians, corporations, and anyone with leverage can engage in strong-arming.
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- forceStrength or compulsion
manipulation · leverage · extortion · duress · arm-twisting · browbeating · compelling · demanding
Act of obtaining something
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- buyoutPurchase of controlling interest
- mergerCorporate combination
undercutting · cartel · collusion · price-fixing · antitrust · squeeze-out · leveraged · greenmail
Forceful extraction of payment
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- protectionGuarding against harm
- thugsViolent criminals
- enforcersThose who impose obedience
goons · mobsters · syndicate · mafia · gangsters · henchmen · intimidators · collection
Advocating to decision-makers
- influencePower to affect others
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
dealmaking · patronage · cronyism · nepotism · quid-pro-quo · kickbacks · gerrymandering · pork-barrel
intimidation
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- pressureForce upon contact
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
force · manipulation · leverage · extortion · duress · arm-twisting · browbeating · compelling · demanding · harassment
acquisition
Act of obtaining something
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- buyoutPurchase of controlling interest
merger · undercutting · cartel · collusion · price-fixing · antitrust · squeeze-out · leveraged · greenmail · vulture
shakedown
Forceful extraction of payment
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- protectionGuarding against harm
- thugsViolent criminals
enforcers · goons · mobsters · syndicate · mafia · gangsters · henchmen · intimidators · collection · heavies
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- influencePower to affect others
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
backroom · dealmaking · patronage · cronyism · nepotism · quid-pro-quo · kickbacks · gerrymandering · pork-barrel · graft
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
- dominance tacticsbullying, commanding, controlling, dictating, domineering
- power tacticspower play, power grab, hardball, playing hardball, arm-twisting
- thuggerybullying, intimidation, menacing, threatening, terrorizing
- extortionextort, shakedown, shake down, blackmail letter, ransom
strong-armingrequesting
Asking for something
entreating · beseeching · coaxing · inviting · soft sell
strong-armingdeferring
Postponing or yielding respectfully
yielding · submitting · acquiescing · capitulating · backing off