Link Centre Dictionary

steamroller

steam·rol·ler

US/ˈstimˌroʊlɚ/ rare informal slang
noun (2) verb (5)

noun

1.

a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way

Synonyms
2.

vehicle equipped with heavy wide smooth rollers for compacting roads and pavements

Synonyms

verb

1.

bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure

  • “The Senator steamrollered the bill to defeat”
Synonyms
2.

proceed with great force

  • “The new teacher tends to steamroller”
Synonyms
3.

crush with a steamroller as if to level

  • “steamroller the road”
4.

overwhelm by using great force

  • “steamroller the opposition”
Synonyms
5.

make level or flat with a steamroller

  • “steamroll the roads”
Synonyms

Origin

From steam + roller.

Phrases

  • Russian steamroller
  • steam engine
  • steam locomotive
  • steam power
  • steam shovel
  • steam tractor

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.