hard-handed
Americanadjective
-
oppressive or tyrannical; stern or cruel.
-
having hands hardened by toil.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hard-handed
First recorded in 1580–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not before an awful lot of work, though, and Charles Crocker, the indefatigable, hard-handed railroad magnate in charge of the Central Pacific’s construction crews, looked around for people to do it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
This is definitely the right way for the hard-handed Yorkshireman to play the spinner.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 29, 2015
They were out for 60 only partly due to the moving ball; it was mainly due to their testosterone-fuelled, front-foot, hard-handed attack frenzy.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 7, 2015
Twice a week for many weeks, the husky, hard-handed choristers had rehearsed with religious earnestness.
From Time Magazine Archive
She could have left it at that: the fold under the earlobe, but that Violet, unsatisfied, fought with the hard-handed usher boys and was time enough for them, almost.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
