rule with an iron fist/hand

idiom

chiefly US
: to rule a country, area, group, etc., in a very strict and often cruel way
The dictator ruled (the country) with an iron fist.

Examples of rule with an iron fist/hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Shah won't be a lame duck and is set to rule with an iron fist. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Leaders who are accessible and relatable are far more likely to build trust with their teams than those who guard themselves or rule with an iron fist. Cicely Simpson, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Rule with an iron fist/hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20with%20an%20iron%20fist%2Fhand. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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