Bulldozing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of clearing or flattening land by pushing soil or obstacles with a large tracked vehicle ; the process of using aggressive force to impose one's will or to overcome opposition
2. Heavy machinery operation that involves moving earth or debris to create a smooth surface ; a metaphor for decisively overcoming resistance by strong effort
3. The method of using a bulldozer to remove buildings or vegetation and level terrain ; forcefully pushing through an obstacle or situation by sheer power or determination

Etymology: "Bulldozing" is the present participle and gerund of "bulldoze", which began as "bulldose", a noun meaning "a dose fit for a bull". That origin is the surprising part. A bulldose was an oversized or extremely strong dose of medicine or a harsh remedy, so the word started out as a plain piece of hyperbole about overwhelming force, applied to something swallowed rather than something driven. Over time the noun was turned into a verb, and the idea of brute, forceful dosing shifted into the image of forcing something through by sheer weight. That is the step that carries the word from the pharmacy to the earthmover. The machine name came later, and the meaning of driving through obstacles with overwhelming power is what the modern sense inherits.

Synonyms: pushing, forcing, coercing, intimidating, overbearing

Antonyms: persuading, encouraging, convincing, supporting, aiding