high-handedly
- adverb
- /haɪˈhændɪdli/
- Formal
- He thought that because I depended on him, he could treat me high-handedly.
Examples
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I still remember vividly two college students high-handedly telling me that I couldn't be poor because I had a three-year-old computer and hadn't sold all my stuff.
Blog text (26) -
She high-handedly decided to change the project deadline without consulting anyone.
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The manager high-handedly dismissed the team's concerns without consideration.
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During the meeting, he spoke high-handedly, making it clear that he didn't value others' input.
Synonyms
Behave in a proud, unfriendly way to show you feel better than others
To speak in a commanding way that expects people to obey
In a way that tries to control others and ignores their views
In a strong controlling way that ignores other people's opinions
In a way that shows someone wants to control other people
In a way that tells people what to do
Behaving as if you are better than other people
Antonyms
How Domineering
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
high-handedly = high-handed (semi-transparent) = high + hand + ed + ly
The adjective 'high-handed' is idiomatic (meaning 'domineering'), so while the adverbial -ly is a regular formation, the base adjective's meaning is not fully derivable from 'high' + 'hand' for average learners.
Etymology
High-handedly comes from joining high and hand, like someone holding their hand high to show power, similar to having the upper hand. So, to act high-handedly is to behave as if you have 'control' and to ignore other people's opinions.