juggernaut

or Jug·ger·naut

[ juhg-er-nawt, -not ]

noun

1. any large, overpowering force or object, such as war, a giant battleship, or a powerful football team.
2. anything requiring blind devotion or cruel sacrifice.
3. Chiefly British. A large, heavy vehicle, especially a truck.

Juggernaut

¹

/ ˈdʒʌɡəˌnɔːt /

noun

1. a crude idol of Krishna worshipped at Puri and throughout Odisha (formerly Orissa) and Bengal. At an annual festival the idol is wheeled through the town on a gigantic chariot and devotees are supposed to have formerly thrown themselves under the wheels
2. a form of Krishna miraculously raised by Brahma from the state of a crude idol to that of a living god

juggernaut

²

/ ˈdʒʌɡəˌnɔːt /

noun

1. any terrible force, esp one that destroys or that demands complete self-sacrifice
2. a very large lorry for transporting goods by road, esp one that travels throughout Europe

Juggernaut

1. A deity in Hinduism , considered a deliverer from sin. His image is carried on a large wagon in an annual procession in India , and according to legend the wagon crushed worshipers who threw themselves under it.

Notes

A force, an idea, or a system of beliefs that overcomes opposition — especially if it does so ruthlessly — is called a “juggernaut.”

Other Words From

• Jug·ger·naut·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggernaut¹

First recorded in 1630–40, in the sense of an idol of Krishna annually drawn on an enormous cart in Puri, Odisha, India; 1840–45 juggernaut fordefs 1, 2; from Hindi Jagannāth, from Sanskrit Jagannātha- “lord of the world”; Jagannath ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of juggernaut¹

C17: from Hindi Jagannath, from Sanskrit Jagannātha lord of the world (that is, Vishnu, chief of the Hindu gods), from jagat world + nātha lord

Example Sentences

Launched just 13 years ago, it quickly became a serious rival to MAS and a rising juggernaut in Asia.

From The Daily Beast

The whole purpose was to create this idea that there was this Prussian juggernaut.

From The Daily Beast

It did little to stop this juggernaut, as the Chiefs racked up another 47 points in the second half, despite emptying their bench.

From The Daily Beast

Take, for example, another YA juggernaut: The Hunger Games trilogy.

From The Daily Beast

That is what my book is about: How do you get the strength to jump off the juggernaut of a relationship?

From The Daily Beast

Then something screamed at them out there in the night and came at them like a juggernaut.

From Project Gutenberg

His Juggernaut's car must roll on its course over her body or Mary Lawrie's.

From Project Gutenberg

The school of hardship is not for those who love luxury, and to the poverty stricken it is not a school--it is a Juggernaut.

From Project Gutenberg

And there are hints of humaner opinions; it's not all a huge rolling block of a Juggernaut.

From Project Gutenberg

Like a Juggernaut, it continued to advance, crushing all who got in its way, the innocent and the evil alike.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barrage
• cavalcade