Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To flatten, as if with a steamroller
  • verb To ruthlessly crush or overwhelm

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure
  • verb make level or flat with a steamroller
  • verb overwhelm by using great force
  • verb proceed with great force

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word steamroll.

Examples

  • Eliot Spitzer, elected in 2006 with a huge mandate, tried to "steamroll" a bunch of hacks in Albany.

    Why Krugman Is Wrong 2007

  • He accused the Government and ANC of trying to "steamroll" an agreement through the negotiating council.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 1993

  • The Chinese certainly assume that they can "steamroll" this administration, as we saw from the last meeting there.

    The Corner on National Review Online Victor Davis Hanson 2010

  • Poizner says he supports a "two-tier" system for current and new state employees but doesn't think that a new governor will be able to come in and "steamroll" the unions.

    Latest Articles 2010

  • The Chinese certainly assume that they can "steamroll" this administration, as we saw from the last meeting there.

    The Corner on National Review Online Victor Davis Hanson 2010

  • Other Democrats charged in 2005 that the Republican leadership wanted to "steamroll" legislation through Congress "with no hearings.")

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2009

  • I would criticize the progressive movement on the grounds that they could possible think more direct democracy was a good idea (that is, empower ordinary individuals in government too much, even though ordinary individuals are too ignorant to make complicated policy decisions), not on the grounds that they wanted to steamroll the individual.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Whitewashing Progressivism 2010

  • For years, the flying wedge was used to steamroll over defenders, causing injuries.

    Unnecessary Roughness Fred Barnes 2011

  • President Obama should take a note from Bush 43 and just steamroll his policy, don't the democrats hold a majority on capital hill

    Obama aiming to seize control of health care debate, aides say 2009

  • While it is obviously true that traditional progressive policy does not tend to give much weight to arbitrarily asserted unenumerated rights made up from whole cloth by activist judges (hello Roe v. Wade!) the purpose of progressivism was never to steamroll or disrespect the individual.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Whitewashing Progressivism 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.