iron fist
noun
authority or power wielded in a cruel, dictatorial, or repressive way.
iron-fisted
-
a word derived from
iron fist.
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.
That's despite an iron-fisted crackdown by President Noboa over the past two years.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
As Coriolanus’ iron-fisted mother, Volumnia, artistic director and Indie Shakes co-founder Melissa Chalsma doesn’t so much speak as roar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
From the Andes to Central America, new leaders are taking power with populist mandates centered on free-market economic policies and iron-fisted security strategies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
School teacher Rehana Akhtar, 60, said she felt "ecstatic" and hoped the democratic process would bring positive change after the iron-fisted rule of Hasina.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
Two years later, Robben Island was without question the harshest, most iron-fisted outpost in the South African penal system.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
