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.
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 China has a hammerlock on production of most of the minerals involved in EVs. Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2022 If Trump runs for president again in 2024, there is every chance he will be nominated but lose the general election, given his hammerlock on the conservative base but low general popularity. Ryan Cooper, The Week, 28 July 2021 Burlington at this point, for decades has been essentially a one party town with a relatively conservative Democratic ruling clique that has just had a hammerlock on city politics. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021 By the time those two transferred, Jordan had a hammerlock on the position, eventually finishing his freshman season with 597 yards, six rushing touchdowns and Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2021 The Fighting Illini outlasted the Buckeyes, seemingly putting a hammerlock on one of the four No. 1 seeds. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Mar. 2021 The race to succeed him reflects changing demographics and voter attitudes in Texas that give Democrats hopes of breaking the longtime GOP political hammerlock on the Lone Star State. David Mark, Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2020 The Democrats seemed to have an even firmer hammerlock on Congress, having held the House continuously for 40 consecutive years by 1994. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 2 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hammerlock was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near hammerlock

Cite this Entry

“Hammerlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammerlock. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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