If you refer to someone's behaviour as strong-arm tactics or methods, you disapprove of it because it consists of using threats or force in order to achieve something.
[disapproval]
The money has been recovered without resorting to verbal abuse or strong-arm tactics.
The paper is openly critical of the strong-arm president.
More Synonyms of strong-arm
strong-arm in British English
informal
noun
1. (modifier)
relating to or involving physical force or violence
strong-arm tactics
verb
2. (transitive)
to show violence towards
strong-arm in American English
(ˈstrɔŋˌɑrm)
US
adjective
1. Informal
using physical force or violence
verb transitive
2. Informal
to use physical force or violence upon, esp. in robbing
Examples of 'strong-arm' in a sentence
strong-arm
He knew better than to employ strong-arm tactics, or even to show annoyance.
MacLeod, Charlotte SOMETHING IN THE WATER (1993)
He's now employed mainly for... "Maartens scratched his greasy hair as he struggled to find the word he wanted, ` strong-arm business.