noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:S T R AO1 NG M AE2 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A man who performs feats of strength, as in competitions or as an attraction in a circus.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A forceful or brutal person, usually a ruler or tyrant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a powerful political figure who rules by the exercise of force or violence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he is determined to bring down the Iraqi strongman
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dictator, potentate
4
noun
Meaning 4
a man who performs feats of strength at a fair or circus
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: performer, performing artist
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English strong Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English strongman From strong + -man.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
大力士
(dàlìshì)
— one who performs feats of strength
Danish:
kraftkarl
— one who performs feats of strength
Finnish:
voimamies
— one who performs feats of strength
German:
Muskelmann
— one who performs feats of strength
German:
Kraftmensch
— one who performs feats of strength
Greek:
μασίστας
(masístas)
— one who performs feats of strength
Hungarian:
erőművész
— one who performs feats of strength
Icelandic:
kraftakarl
— one who performs feats of strength
Icelandic:
vöðvatröll
— one who performs feats of strength
Icelandic:
kraftajötunn
— one who performs feats of strength
Icelandic:
aflraunamaður
— one who performs feats of strength
Icelandic:
heljarmenni
— one who performs feats of strength
Latin:
ostentātor
— one who performs feats of strength
Latin:
ostentātrix
— one who performs feats of strength
Polish:
siłacz
— one who performs feats of strength
Polish:
siłaczka
— one who performs feats of strength
Russian:
сила́ч
(siláč)
— one who performs feats of strength
Serbo-Croatian:
jakota
— one who performs feats of strength
Spanish:
forzudo
— one who performs feats of strength
Spanish:
fortachón
— one who performs feats of strength
Spanish:
forzolento
— one who performs feats of strength
Swedish:
starke mannen
— one who performs feats of strength
Chinese Mandarin:
強人 /强人
(qiángrén)
— forceful or brutal person
Finnish:
vahva mies
— forceful or brutal person
German:
Machthaber
— forceful or brutal person
German:
Diktator
— forceful or brutal person
German:
Gewaltherrscher
— forceful or brutal person
German:
Tyrann
— forceful or brutal person
German:
Despot
— forceful or brutal person
German:
starker Mann
— forceful or brutal person
Hungarian:
erőskezű vezető
— forceful or brutal person
Hungarian:
hatalmával visszaélő vezető
— forceful or brutal person
Hungarian:
diktátor
— forceful or brutal person
Latin:
brūtus
— forceful or brutal person
Polish:
mocarz
— forceful or brutal person
Russian:
автокра́т
(avtokrát)
— forceful or brutal person
Russian:
тира́н
(tirán)
— forceful or brutal person
Spanish:
hombre fuerte
— forceful or brutal person