noun
steamroller
Refers to the heavy construction vehicle with a large roller, used for flattening surfaces like roads. Also used figuratively for an unstoppable force.
道路工事でスチームローラーがアスファルトをならしていた。
A steamroller was flattening the asphalt at the road construction site.
Variant with interpunct, sometimes seen in dictionaries or for clarity.
ロードローラー is a more general term for any road roller, while スチームローラー specifically refers to a steam-powered roller, though in practice both are often used interchangeably for the same vehicle.
Loanword from English 'steamroller'.