heavy-handed
Americanadjective
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oppressive; harsh.
a heavy-handed master.
-
clumsy; graceless.
a heavy-handed treatment of the theme.
adjective
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clumsy
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harsh and oppressive
Other Word Forms
- heavy-handedly adverb
- heavy-handedness noun
Etymology
Origin of heavy-handed
First recorded in 1625–35
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.
Their operations often see groups of masked and armed officers making heavy-handed arrests at bus stops, shops and other areas where migrants are known to gather.
From Barron's
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said school leaders "need support from government, not the threat of heavy-handed inspection".
From BBC
There are few scenic accouterments other than some fabulously eerie lighting, suspenseful sound effects and heavy-handed underscoring.
From Los Angeles Times
Previous heavy-handed law enforcement tactics under former council members yielded minimal results, while current efforts focus on addressing root causes of homelessness, addiction, and neighborhood disinvestment.
From Los Angeles Times
"School leaders need support from government, not the threat of heavy-handed inspection," he added.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
