ramrod

C2 Topic:War & Conflict

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.

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

War & Conflict

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
- War & Conflict

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