strongarm
Intimidate into compliance
Strongarm means using physical force or intimidation to achieve a goal.
As a verb, to strongarm someone is to coerce them through threats or violence: They strongarmed the shopkeeper into paying protection money.
As an adjective, it describes aggressive tactics: strongarm methods, strongarm robbery.
The term implies bullying rather than persuasion—getting compliance through fear rather than agreement.
Habitual intimidator
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- extortObtain through coercion
- blackmailCoercion through damaging threats
compel · browbeat · dragoon · pressure · bulldoze · railroad · twist arm · lean on
One who ensures compliance
- goonEnforcer or simpleton
- henchmanLoyal criminal subordinate
- musclemanPowerfully built person
- bruiserLarge, intimidating fighter
heavy · tough · bouncer · bodyguard · hired muscle · leg-breaker · tough guy · bully boy
Compelling compliance with rules
- crackdownSudden strict enforcement
- raidSudden armed incursion
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- roundupOrganized gathering of scattered things
shakedown · bust · sweep · clampdown · compliance · mandate · compulsion · authority
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
menace · bluster · swagger · roughing up · thuggery · heavy-handed · aggressive · ruthless
bully
Habitual intimidator
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- threatenPromise harm or punishment
- extortObtain through coercion
blackmail · compel · browbeat · dragoon · pressure · bulldoze · railroad · twist arm · lean on · squeeze
enforcer
One who ensures compliance
bruiser · heavy · tough · bouncer · bodyguard · hired muscle · leg-breaker · tough guy · bully boy · racketeer
enforcement
Compelling compliance with rules
roundup · shakedown · bust · sweep · clampdown · compliance · mandate · compulsion · authority · jurisdiction
intimidation
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- threatsDeclarations of intended harm
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
harassment · menace · bluster · swagger · roughing up · thuggery · heavy-handed · aggressive · ruthless · unscrupulous
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- tough guystough guys, tough guy, thug, thugs, enforcer
- aggressive tacticsblitz, blitzkrieg, frontal assault, offensive, attack mode
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
- power tacticspower play, power grab, hardball, playing hardball, arm-twisting
- loan sharksloan shark, shylock, vig, vigorish, juice