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
A big reason for its continued survival: the effective surveillance of all residents—including eavesdropping on calls—and its iron-fisted control of every aspect of society, from sports centers to concert halls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 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
Mali's once robust tourism sector has dried up in recent years after an iron-fisted junta came to power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 and as Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists waged a campaign of attacks.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
That same month, Erich Honecker, the iron-fisted East German leader, was removed by the communist leadership.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
