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Definition of big stick

big stick

Plural:big sticks
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• noun

1

A display or threat of formidable power, authority, or coercion, especially when used as leverage in political, diplomatic, or economic negotiations.

Example

"The regulatory agency prefers cooperative dialogue with corporations, though it retains the big stick of heavy fines for severe violations."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Frequently used in political and economic discourse in allusion to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's famous maxim, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

• Nearby Words

bifold
bifurcate
big
big stick
bigamist
bigamous
bigamy

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Big stick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/big-stick
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