heavy-handed
27
6.3
- adjective
- /ˈhɛviˈhændɪd/
- The company's heavy-handed policies led to employee dissatisfaction and low morale.
- heavy-handed approach
- heavy-handed tactics
- heavy-handed action
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Watch on YouTubeThe anti woke right is increasingly wielding heavy-handed tactics.
- The anti woke right is increasingly wielding heavy-handed tactics.
- It's a bit heavy-handed to say your friends can't come over.
- It's the reason that he is having Trump be so heavy-handed on South African refugees.
- And OK, there was this trial, that trial and that she, it seems that she was pretty heavy-handed when it came to prosecuting people and putting people in jail.
- And I like to go a little bit on the heavy-handed side.
- Many people do fall for it, but if you have fallen for heavy-handed hoovering in the past, you know exactly where it ends up.
- And then you may face the heavy-handed play of them sort of threatening to step away from the relationship or leave it.
Examples
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I love Valve games, but their guidance is often way too heavy-handed for my taste.
Blog text (9) -
The Kremlin's heavy-handed approach toward critical media outlets has shocked liberal opinion.
Academic text (2002) -
I mean, the goal is to show, not in a heavy-handed way, but to show that these are real concerns for real people.
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Rapid large scale government regulation feels heavy-handed but necessary.
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In any case, the Bush administration needs to avoid the heavy-handed approach traditionally associated with US policy toward Central America.
Academic text (1990) -
Milongo's heavy-handed approach to bringing the army under civilian control nearly led to disaster.
Academic text (1994) -
All took place amid the latest round of heavy-handed crackdowns on dissent after the Arab Spring.
Blog text (6) -
When leftist rebels challenged these governments, the military-controlled Guatemalan state apparatus responded with heavy-handed repression.
Academic text (2000) -
The teacher's heavy-handed discipline made the students feel oppressed.
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Many residents feel that the mayor's heavy-handed tactics are harming community relations.
Synonyms
296
2.8
Unkind and too strict in what someone says or does to others
65
4.2
Very strict and harsh when judging or punishing people
58
4.3
Showing strong power and clear confidence in speech or actions
34
5.8
Being proud and trying to control other people
24
7.6
Using force or threats to make someone do something
15
8.4
Very bold and rude in a way that forces people to notice
13
7.4
Trying to control other people and not listening to their ideas
8
8.9
Acting in a harsh way that ignores other people's feelings
6
5.6
Trying to control other people in a forceful or unfair way
3
8.1
Using power in a rude way that ignores other people's views
2
7.6
A leader who uses very strict rules to control people
1
5.8
Too forceful or pushy in a way that makes other people uncomfortable
1
7.9
A leader who uses very strict control over people
Antonyms
How Harsh
- NSFW
230
4.8
45
6.3
296
2.8
27
6.3
371
3.2
408
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Heavy-handed comes from joining heavy ('forceful') and handed ('with the hand'), so think of a leader or person using a 'heavy hand' to push people or rules around. That image shows too much pressure or control. So heavy-handed can mean using too much force or being harsh.