heavy-handed

adjective

heavy-hand·​ed ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd How to pronounce heavy-handed (audio)
heavy-handedly adverb
heavy-handedness noun

Examples of heavy-handed in a Sentence

the new manager's heavy-handed approach soon had employees turning in their letters of resignation felt heavy-handed and awkward when holding the newborn infant
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bukele is immensely popular, largely because his heavy-handed security efforts have eviscerated the country’s street gangs. Gisela Salomon, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 Popular on Variety Frank is a by-the-book type whose rigidity is in part a battle against PTSD from the WW2 military service shown in heavy-handed flashbacks. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Jan. 2025 Many see its actions as neocolonial, including its imposition of draconian conditions on trade and investment deals and its heavy-handed diplomacy across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025 However, my fears that the extended display would make the laptop unbalanced and easy to topple proved unfounded after a brief hands-on test, with the device remaining stable when used on a desktop, even under my heavy-handed typing. Barry Collins, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for heavy-handed 

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heavy-handed was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near heavy-handed

Cite this Entry

“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy-handed. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

heavy-handed

adjective
heavy-hand·​ed
ˌhev-ē-ˈhan-dəd
1
2
: severe or harsh in dealing with others

More from Merriam-Webster on heavy-handed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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