1
as in harsh
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
the new manager's heavy-handed approach soon had employees turning in their letters of resignation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
felt heavy-handed and awkward when holding the newborn infant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of heavy-handed
Worse still, Lena’s brief courtship with Abram, whose death Perry telegraphs in an insultingly heavy-handed way, makes so little impact because, again, the characters and their relationship never rise above the archetypal.
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Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Briskly paced, de Jonge’s movie covers a lot of ground both tonal and geographic without ever seeming hurried, conspicuously touristic or heavy-handed in its mix of humor and pathos.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Republicans in general—especially President-elect Donald Trump—tend to be much less heavy-handed than Democrats, so the Biden administration is quickly moving several of its Big Tech consumer watchdog and antitrust investigations forward.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
The uprising began with peaceful demonstrations against employment quotas for regime loyalists, but a heavy-handed crackdown ignited a powderkeg of rage against inequality and political repression that brought tens of thousands of mothers and daughters, bankers and beggars, united onto the street.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heavy-handed 
Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Briskly paced, de Jonge’s movie covers a lot of ground both tonal and geographic without ever seeming hurried, conspicuously touristic or heavy-handed in its mix of humor and pathos.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Republicans in general—especially President-elect Donald Trump—tend to be much less heavy-handed than Democrats, so the Biden administration is quickly moving several of its Big Tech consumer watchdog and antitrust investigations forward.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
The uprising began with peaceful demonstrations against employment quotas for regime loyalists, but a heavy-handed crackdown ignited a powderkeg of rage against inequality and political repression that brought tens of thousands of mothers and daughters, bankers and beggars, united onto the street.
—Charlie Campbell, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heavy-handed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy-handed
Adjective
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The corps’ push for additional benefits coincided with a harsh realization for the British Army: For white men, service in the West Indies was viewed as a death sentence due to the high risk of disease.Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
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This is especially key as bitcoin has surged to $100,000 , meaning that the earliest holders with the lowest basis could be facing harsh taxes on sale.Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Far from prolific in front of goal, the Senegalese looked out of sorts, full of running and hunger to score but clumsy, his anxious limbs snatching at chances rather than taking them naturally.Henry Flynn, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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The first few episodes were rife with clumsy and, at times, confusing time jumps, many that seemed tacked on to preexisting scenes in an effort to retrofit them for a new, Costner-less reality.Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One example of such concessions that China can make would be promising stricter oversight on fentanyl trades, Scissors added.Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
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Either way, stricter regulations likely won’t be in place to impact this winter season, and despite the unease expressed by locals, mass tourism to Rovaniemi is probably only going to grow in 2025 — as visitors want to experience the unique atmosphere up north, especially during the holiday season.CNN, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Fentanyl abuse isn't the only opioid that can cause the awkward body reaction, Ciccarone said.James Ward, The Arizona Republic, 13 Dec. 2024
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Read More: The Surprising Benefits of Talking Out Loud to Yourself Things might feel a little awkward during those early sessions, and that's normal, says Grant.Perri Ormont Blumberg, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Georgia’s relations with the EU have deteriorated sharply in recent months as Brussels has alleged that the government had resorted to authoritarian measures and adopted pro-Russian stances.Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
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If the impeachment is confirmed by the Constitutional Court, Yoon will become the fourth South Korean president — out of eight total — to be jailed or ousted since the nation democratized in 1987 after decades of authoritarian rule.Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The legal profession has long been recognized for its rigorous standards and competitive environment.Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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The finding that Israel has perpetrated genocide is a conclusion based on painstaking research and rigorous legal analysis.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Eldest children may create stern rules for their kids, such as a chore chart and strict bedtime routines.Alex Vance, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
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The speaker of the National Assembly read a stern statement on camera demanding that the president hold off a visit to the National Assembly until security matters are ironed out.Joohee Cho, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near heavy-handed
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy-handed. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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