Library / English Dictionary

STEAMROLLER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

road roller; steamroller

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("steamroller" is a kind of...):

vehicle (a conveyance that transports people or objects)

Derivation:

steamroller (make level or flat with a steamroller)

steamroller (crush with a steamroller as if to level)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

juggernaut; steamroller

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("steamroller" is a kind of...):

force; power (one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority)

Derivation:

steamroll (overwhelm by using great force)

steamroll (proceed with great force)

steamroll (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

steamroller (overwhelm by using great force)

steamroller (proceed with great force)

steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make level or flat with a steamroller

Example:

steamroll the roads

Synonyms:

steamroll; steamroller

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "steamroller" is one way to...):

flatten (make flat or flatter)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Overwhelm by using great force

Example:

steamroller the opposition

Synonyms:

steamroll; steamroller

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "steamroller" is one way to...):

overmaster; overpower; overwhelm (overcome by superior force)

Verb group:

steamroll; steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot steamroller Sue

Derivation:

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

Crush with a steamroller as if to level

Example:

steamroller the road

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "steamroller" is one way to...):

crush; mash; squash; squeeze; squelch (to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Proceed with great force

Example:

The new teacher tends to steamroller

Synonyms:

steamroll; steamroller

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "steamroller" is one way to...):

go; move; proceed (follow a procedure or take a course)

Verb group:

steamroll; steamroller (bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

Bring to a specified state by overwhelming force or pressure

Example:

The Senator steamrollered the bill to defeat

Synonyms:

steamroll; steamroller

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "steamroller" is one way to...):

coerce; force; hale; pressure; squeeze (to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means)

Verb group:

steamroll; steamroller (overwhelm by using great force)

steamroll; steamroller (proceed with great force)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

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

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