as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
it took some arm-twisting, but they eventually agreed to make a donation
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Recent Examples of arm-twisting
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2026
This one-year penance business reeks of score-settling, petty grudges and arm-twisting.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Noun
Secretly recorded telephone conversations of President Lyndon B. Johnson during his years in the White House reveal LBJ was a blunt, vulgar, scheming politician who was skilled at using a blend of bullying, puffery and arm-twisting to get his way.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2026
This one-year penance business reeks of score-settling, petty grudges and arm-twisting.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Ordinarily, any arm-twisting or horse-trading is done behind the scenes, and typically the winning candidate has been able to wrap up the race within days of the November election.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
This big, beautiful bill fulfills all the promises in the America First agenda.
SCOTT (voice over): But getting it over the finish line took arm-twisting and deal-making.
—ABC News, 6 July 2025
After arm-twisting and cajoling lawmakers overnight, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed what is likely to be the most significant piece of legislation enacted during the president’s second term.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arm-twisting
Noun
-
But within Seattle’s defense — a unit built on balance, depth and consistent pressure — his role still mattered.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In a sign of the pressure for Republicans to take advantage of the opportunity, multiple hopefuls running for governor in GOP primaries called for immediate redraws.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His process of doing so involved disparaging his accusers, browbeating people and institutions that no longer wanted to be associated with him, and refusing to accept a path that precluded a return to being a public figure.—
Elizabeth Spiers,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Analysts have suggested a vote from Waller in favor of interest rate cuts, aligning with the president’s browbeating demands for lower borrowing costs—could be seen as a bellwether for his candidacy.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some airlines and independent lounges sell day passes, but availability is often limited due to capacity constraints.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Law said the bill is lacking an education and outreach provision due largely to budget constraints.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, Trump’s bullying style of diplomacy does not engender a willingness by allies and friends to step forward and provide assistance to our efforts in Iran.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
-
His campaign is gaining momentum at a time when many of the administration’s steadfast Christian backers—alarmed by the president’s bullying campaign against Pope Leo XIV in recent weeks, among other heresies—have been rethinking their support.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Writing, on the other hand, is my lifeline—a compulsion, a joy, and sometimes agony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Family photo For Strausman, like so many artists of all skill levels, creating became a compulsion of the spirit.—
Steve Hartman,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is the page in the racing program full of numbers, abbreviations and lines that looks intimidating at first.—
Neil Greenberg,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
The Chapitos helped Rocha Moya, who has been governor since November 2021, get elected by stealing ballots, as well as kidnapping and intimidating opponents, the document said.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Samuel is too comfortable with his father’s assault rifle, pantomiming intimidation into the mirror like a 13-year-old Travis Bickle.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Jonathan Harms, 43, and Jolene Harms, 39, faced a long list of criminal charges related to stalking, witness intimidation and threats, court records show.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps more meaningfully, the message is the antithesis of a contrived political pitch or a hectoring sermon.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Dealing with the hectoring racket of New York fans may well have prepared him to withstand the noise of the Super Bowl.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arm-twisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arm-twisting. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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