hammerlock

noun

ham·​mer·​lock ˈha-mər-ˌläk How to pronounce hammerlock (audio)
: a wrestling hold in which an opponent's arm is held bent behind the back
broadly : a strong hold

Examples of hammerlock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
President-elect Donald J. Trump’s hammerlock on the Republican Party was shaken on Thursday night when 38 of his party’s lawmakers in the House voted to defy his command to support a spending and debt deal. — Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024 Breaking the hammerlock that a handful of prime contractors has on Pentagon budgets and timetables won’t be easy. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 24 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammerlock was in 1897

Rhymes for hammerlock

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Browse Nearby Words

hammerless
hammerlock
hammerman
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Cite this Entry

“Hammerlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammerlock. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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