ramrod

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ˈræmˌrɑːd/ UK /ˈræmrɒd/ See IPA manual

Freq #40586

Meanings

1

noun
a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel

Huck slid the ramrod down the gun to make sure it was loaded.
2

noun
informal: a person who directs or supervises an operation forcefully

The foreman acted as ramrod for the entire construction crew.
3

adj
rigid, severe, or extremely stiff and upright

The officer maintained a ramrod posture throughout the inspection.
4

verb
to force, direct, or push something through rapidly and firmly

The minister tried to ramrod the bill through the legislature.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a rod used to push a charge... loading rodcleaning rod

2 noun · informal: a person who... boss overseer

3 adj · rigid, severe, or extremely... rigid stern stiff

4 verb · to force, direct, or push... force throughdrive supervise

Opposites

flexible yielding

Word family

Derived forms ramroddedramrodding

Related forms muzzleloadergun barrel

Etymology

A compound of ram + rod, first naming the rod used to ram a charge into a muzzle-loader. Its hardness and force produced figurative senses for rigid posture, a strict supervisor, and forceful direction.

Topics

External links

# ramrod

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈræmˌrɑːd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈræmrɒd/
**Frequency rank:** 40586

## Meanings
1. a rod used to push a charge down the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm or to clean a gun barrel
2. informal: a person who directs or supervises an operation forcefully
3. rigid, severe, or extremely stiff and upright
4. to force, direct, or push something through rapidly and firmly

## Examples
- Huck slid the ramrod down the gun to make sure it was loaded.
- The foreman acted as ramrod for the entire construction crew.
- The officer maintained a ramrod posture throughout the inspection.
- The minister tried to ramrod the bill through the legislature.

## Synonyms
- loading rod
- boss
- overseer
- rigid
- force through

## Antonyms
- flexible
- yielding

## Derived Forms
- ramrodded
- ramrodding

## Related Forms
- muzzleloader
- gun barrel

## Etymology
A compound of ram + rod, first naming the rod used to ram a charge into a muzzle-loader. Its hardness and force produced figurative senses for rigid posture, a strict supervisor, and forceful direction.

## Topics
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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