heavy-handed
adjective
heavy-hand·ed
ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: clumsy
2
: oppressive, harsh
heavy-handedly
adverb
heavy-handedness
noun
Synonyms
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
But recent polling by the Commonwealth Foundation shows that most Pennsylvanians object to not only a fracking ban but also most heavy-handed environmental policies -- many of which the vice president embraces.
—
André Béliveau, National Review, 19 Oct. 2024
The concept is heavy-handed, and taken individually, these ideas seem shallow, not unlike some of Persona’s bigger statements that get left undeveloped.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024
The episode says much about the sometimes paradoxical effects of Kremlin propaganda: amid rumors of supply chain problems and price hikes, the Kremlin made a heavy-handed campaign telling people there were plenty of eggs.
—Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024
What was once a lighthearted and freely undertaken endeavor becomes weighed down by heavy-handed corporation rules and stipulations.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heavy-handed 
André Béliveau, National Review, 19 Oct. 2024
The concept is heavy-handed, and taken individually, these ideas seem shallow, not unlike some of Persona’s bigger statements that get left undeveloped.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024
The episode says much about the sometimes paradoxical effects of Kremlin propaganda: amid rumors of supply chain problems and price hikes, the Kremlin made a heavy-handed campaign telling people there were plenty of eggs.
—Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024
What was once a lighthearted and freely undertaken endeavor becomes weighed down by heavy-handed corporation rules and stipulations.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heavy-handed
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heavy-handed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 5 Nov. 2024.
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