iron fist

American  

[ahy-ern fist] / ˈaɪ ərn ˈfɪst /

noun

1. authority or power wielded in a cruel, dictatorial, or repressive way.

   The lecture described the torments that befell many artists under the iron fist of Stalin.

   This tyrant ruled the country with an iron fist until he was finally deposed and executed.

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Other Word Forms

• iron-fisted adjective
• ironfisted adjective

Example Sentences

When the authoritarian leader starts to display physical impairment, the people who have been chafing under his iron fist stop fearing him.

From Salon

And when the authoritarian leader starts to display physical impairment, the people who have been chafing under his iron fist stop fearing him.

From Salon

Noboa won re-election this year on a platform of using an iron fist to crack down on gangs like the Wolves, but he has been unable to stop the bloodshed.

From The Wall Street Journal

The wife of Ali Bongo, whose family ruled the central African country with an iron fist for 55 years, had been accused of manipulating her husband to embezzle taxpayers' money.

From Barron's

She was quick to note that there are others who could lead, unify and corral the Democratic caucus in the vein of McConnell or Pelosi, who each ruled their respective chambers “with an iron fist.”

From Salon