juggernaut

juggernaut \JUHG-er-nawt\ , noun;

1. Any large, overpowering, destructive force.
2. Something, such as a belief or institution, that elicits blind and destructive devotion.
3. An idol of Krishna, at Puri in Orissa, India, annually drawn on an enormous cart under whose wheels devotees are said to have thrown themselves to be crushed.

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Seems like I've known this word forever, being as how I've always liked Sci-Fi: "The alien war cruiser tore through the galaxy like a juggernaut." (for example)

I was shown the first definition in the autumn/h.s. football season of 1969; I was a 14 yr. old, 155 lb. freshman trying to block 19 yr. old 200 lb. Oklahoma hillbillies, the operative word being "trying".