Definition of “steamroller” - English Dictionary

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“steamroller” in English

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steamrollernoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈstiːmˌrəʊ.lər/ us ​ /ˈstiːmˌroʊ.lɚ/

steamrollerverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈstiːmˌrəʊ.lər/ us ​ /ˈstiːmˌroʊ.lɚ/ informal

› to use great force either to make someone do something or on something to make it happen or be successful:

He steamrollered the plan through the committee.
I hate being steamrollered into doing something I don't want to.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

(Definition of “steamroller” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“steamroller” in American English

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steamrollernoun [ C ]

us ​ /ˈstimˌroʊ·lər/

steamroller noun [ C ] (VEHICLE)

› a vehicle whose wheels are large, heavy cylinders that roll over a road surface to make it flat

steamrollerverb [ T ]

us ​ /ˈstimˌroʊ·lər/ also steamroll, /ˈstimˌroʊl/

steamroller verb [ T ] (FORCE)

› to use great force to make someone do something or to make (something) happen:

He steamrollered the bill through Congress.

(Definition of “steamroller” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“steamroller” in Business English

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steamrollernoun

uk ​ /ˈstiːmˌrəʊlər/ us ​

› [ C ] a large, heavy machine that rolls over the surface of a new road to make it flat

› [ C, usually singular ] a powerful force that easily defeats anything opposing it:

It is hard for small businesses to compete against the steamroller of globalization.

steamrollerverb [ T ]

uk ​ /ˈstiːmˌrəʊlər/ us ​ also steamroll

› to achieve something using a great amount of force, pressure, or influence:

steamroller sb into doing sth A sales assistant tried to steamroller him into buying a €50 warranty.
steamroller sth through (sth) The vote was criticized as an effort to steamroll the legislation through before Sunday's general election.

› to defeat someone by using a great amount of force, pressure, or influence:

The company is so big they simply steamroller the competition.

(Definition of “steamroller” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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