steamroller
3 synonyms for steamroller, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces.
“The steamroller flattened the fresh asphalt on the new road.”
2. verb
To force something through or overpower opposition without regard for objections.
“The committee steamrollered the proposal through despite objections from residents.”
How to use steamroller
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
steamroller an opponent
steamroller a proposal through
Etymology
A compound of steam + roller, from the original steam-powered road-flattening machines.
Full origin of steamroller →Frequently asked questions
What does “steamroller” mean?
The word “steamroller” means a heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces. In plain terms, a machine that flattens roads, or figuratively, to push something through by sheer force.
How do you pronounce “steamroller”?
“Steamroller” is pronounced STEEM-rohl (/ˈstimˌroʊlɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “steamroller” in a sentence?
Here is “steamroller” used in a sentence: “The steamroller flattened the fresh asphalt on the new road.”
What part of speech is “steamroller”?
Depending on how it is used, “steamroller” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “steamroller” have?
“Steamroller” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces.
Related words
steam engine
steam locomotive
steam power
steam shovel
steam tractor
