heavy-handed

[hev-ee-han-did]

adjective

1. oppressive; harsh.

   a heavy-handed master.

2. clumsy; graceless.

   a heavy-handed treatment of the theme.

heavy-handed

adjective

1. clumsy

2. harsh and oppressive

Other Word Forms

• heavy-handedness noun
• heavy-handedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of heavy-handed¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Related Words

• coercive 
• cruel 
• harsh 
• oppressive