high-handed
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of high-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.
The high-handed rejection of a treatment for Huntington’s disease shows why the biologics chief had to go.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
One official who was involved and spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid facing retribution said they were disgusted by the request’s “brazenness and the high-handed expectation of complicity.”
From Salon • Nov. 19, 2025
Scottish Conservatives chairman Craig Hoy told the BBC that Mr Russell was "dismissing the concerns raised by Lisa Cameron in the most high-handed of ways."
From BBC • Oct. 13, 2023
Draghi's sometimes high-handed manner has also won him enemies in the cabinet, well-placed government sources say, meaning only a few members of his coalition team tried to fight his corner as the vote progressed.
From Reuters • Feb. 2, 2022
“But your honor will not deny me this one and only poor privilege of protest against this high-handed outrage upon my citizen’s rights,” Anthony responded.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
