iron-handed
- adjective
- /ˈaɪərnˌhændɪd/
:
de mano dura
- The manager dealt with performance issues using an iron-handed approach, showing no mercy to underperforming employees.
Examples
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For both China and Russia, nationalism and an iron-handed central state are appealing solutions to these centrifugal forces and important sources of legitimacy for the current regimes.
Academic text (2009) -
Mr. Sinclair's price prediction was probably understating the real price of what gold prices would be today if the iron-handed controllers of our markets had not manipulated the markets so many times to push up the paper dollar and to push down the price of gold.
Blog text (13) -
During the crisis, the government enforced iron-handed measures to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
-
The principal was known for his iron-handed discipline, rarely allowing students to escape punishment for their mistakes.
Synonyms
14
6.3
Using too much force or strict control when dealing with people
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
Antonyms
How Harsh
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Iron-handed combines iron (a very hard metal) and hand, so imagine a leader whose 'hand' is made of iron and cannot be bent. That's why iron-handed describes someone who rules or acts in a very strict way and shows 'no mercy'.