noun
steamroller
STEEM-rohl
Steamroller (noun) means a heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces. Example: “The steamroller flattened the fresh asphalt on the new road.”
noun
1
A heavy vehicle with large rollers used to flatten road surfaces.
"The steamroller flattened the fresh asphalt on the new road."
verb
1
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
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA machine that flattens roads, or figuratively, to push something through by sheer force.
Common pairings
steamroller an opponent
steamroller a proposal through
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Word forms
- Plural
- steamrollers
- Third person singular
- steamrollers
- Past tense
- steamrollered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ flattened the fresh asphalt on the new road.
Etymology
A compound of steam + roller, from the original steam-powered road-flattening machines.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for steamroller
See all rhymes for 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.
