I. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
1. : a steam-driven road roller
2. : an irresistible or crushing power or force ; especially : one ruthlessly exerted or applied to overcome opposition
the steamroller had passed over the insurgents, and the machine had won a new victory — Review of Reviews
II. verb
also steamroll ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: steamroller from steamroller (I) ; steamroll, back-formation from steamroller (I)
transitive verb
1. : to crush with a steamroller
2.
a. : to overwhelm, crush, or coerce by greatly superior force
steamroller the opposition
the well-organized majority steamrollered the conference into adopting its proposals without discussion
b. : to bring by overwhelming force or pressure
steamrollered the bill through the legislature
steamrollered the bill to defeat
intransitive verb
: to move or proceed with irresistible force