juggernaut

noun

jug·​ger·​naut ˈjə-gər-ˌnȯt 

-ˌnät

1

: a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path

an advertising juggernaut

a political juggernaut

2

chiefly British : a large heavy truck

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The History of Juggernaut

In the early 14th century, Franciscan missionary Friar Odoric brought to Europe the story of an enormous carriage that carried an image of the Hindu god Vishnu (whose title was Jagannath, literally, "lord of the world") through the streets of India in religious processions. Odoric reported that some worshippers deliberately allowed themselves to be crushed beneath the vehicle's wheels as a sacrifice to Vishnu. That story was likely an exaggeration or misinterpretation of actual events, but it spread throughout Europe. The tale caught the imagination of English listeners, and they began using juggernaut to refer to any massive vehicle (such as a steam locomotive) and to any other enormous entity with powerful crushing capabilities.

Synonyms

• bandwagon
• blitz
• campaign
• cause
• crusade
• drive
• movement
• push

Examples of juggernaut in a Sentence

there was no escaping the juggernaut of hype for the studio's biggest summer blockbuster

Recent Examples on the Web

Chris Osgood, March 6, 1996 Situation: This one comes with 10 seconds left in a game between a record-breaking Red Wings juggernaut and a Whalers team that was, uh, not that. —Sean McIndoe, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

Along with stars Henri Richard and Bernie Geoffrion, Bonin helped the Montreal juggernaut claim the last three of its five consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1956-60. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

Vince Gilligan, who created the juggernaut AMC series Breaking Bad and followed it with the lauded prequel spinoff series Better Call Saul, will receive the WGA West’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025

Reid has produced three interceptions and four sacks in three years since joining the AFC juggernauts as a full-time starter. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Hindi Jagannāth, literally, lord of the world, title of Vishnu

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 2