heavy-handed

adjective

heavy-hand·​ed ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd 

1

: clumsy

2

: oppressive, harsh

heavy-handedly adverb

heavy-handedness noun

Synonyms

• austere
• authoritarian
• flinty
• hard
• harsh
• ramrod
• rigid
• rigorous
• severe
• stern
• strict
• tough

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

And just as with human economies, these markets will need some light touch, not heavy-handed rules of the road through regulation or market infrastructure, like a way to transact and transfer value. —Korok Ray, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

This mode of storytelling can be heavy-handed for the sake of mass appeal, but director Kiran Rao deftly combines the literal and symbolic, resulting in a crowd-pleaser filled — for better or worse — with innate goodness. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 10 Dec. 2024

Refreshingly, there are no heavy-handed invitations for Instagram selfies—understatement being part of what makes this hotel so classy. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 7 Dec. 2024

Two police units known for their heavy-handed tactics were disbanded after the DOJ launched its probe. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

heavy-handed

adjective

heavy-hand·​ed

ˌhev-ē-ˈhan-dəd

1

: clumsy sense 1

2

: severe or harsh in dealing with others