strongman
Autocrat or lifter
A strongman is a performer who demonstrates feats of physical strength—lifting heavy weights, bending metal bars, breaking chains.
The term extends to authoritarian political leaders who rule through force and personal power rather than democratic institutions: The country fell under the grip of a strongman.
Strongman competitions test athletes in events like deadlifts and atlas stones.
Sole wielder of power
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
dictator · oppressor · ruler · regime · junta · coercion · repression · propaganda
Legendary Greek strongman
- SamsonBiblical figure with hair-bound might
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- GoliathBiblical giant warrior
- titanDominant figure in field
giant · demigod · legend · colossus · Beowulf · Thor · Gilgamesh · superhuman
Having well-developed sinews
- burlyHeavily muscled and broad
- brawnyPhysically powerful, well-muscled
- hulkingMassive and unwieldy
- barrel-chestedHaving expansive ribcage
powerlifter · weightlifter · bodybuilder · bulking · mass · thick · imposing · strapping
Secondary carnival attraction
- circusTraveling entertainment with performers
- fairgroundOutdoor amusement venue
- performerOne who entertains audiences
- spectacleVisually striking event
crowd · showman · muscleman · exhibition · trick · strongwoman · act · tent
Struggle for supremacy
autocrat
Sole wielder of power
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
totalitarian · dictator · oppressor · ruler · regime · junta · coercion · repression · propaganda · crackdown
Hercules
Legendary Greek strongman
- SamsonBiblical figure with hair-bound might
- AtlasSky-bearing Titan of myth
- GoliathBiblical giant warrior
titan · giant · demigod · legend · colossus · Beowulf · Thor · Gilgamesh · superhuman · mighty
muscular
Having well-developed sinews
barrel-chested · powerlifter · weightlifter · bodybuilder · bulking · mass · thick · imposing · strapping · stocky
sideshow
Secondary carnival attraction
- circusTraveling entertainment with performers
- fairgroundOutdoor amusement venue
- performerOne who entertains audiences
spectacle · crowd · showman · muscleman · exhibition · trick · strongwoman · act · tent
competition
Struggle for supremacy
- athletesathlete, Olympian, champion, swimmers, runner
- circuscircus, big top, clown, clowns, ringmaster
- athletic competitionsmarathon, triathlon, decathlon, pentathlon, heptathlon
- carnivalparade, costume, float, ferris wheel, roller coaster
- circus termstrapeze artist, lion tamer, big top, juggler, tightrope walker
- circus workersacrobat, clown, ringmaster, trapeze artist, lion tamer
strongmandemocrat
Advocate for popular rule
servant leader · figurehead · Mahatma Gandhi · Nelson Mandela · puppet ruler
strongmanpushover
Easily defeated opponent
doormat · yes-man · milquetoast · wallflower · shrinking violet