heavy-handed
adjective
heavy-hand·ed
ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: clumsy
2
: oppressive, harsh
heavy-handedly
adverb
heavy-handedness
noun
Examples of heavy-handed in a Sentence
the new manager's heavy-handed approach soon had employees turning in their letters of resignation
felt heavy-handed and awkward when holding the newborn infant
Recent Examples on the Web
In an address to the nation Sunday night about the first year of his new term, Bukele brushed off criticism of his heavy-handed tactics.
—
Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Key Background Musk has scaled back his role in the Trump administration in recent weeks after brief but tumultuous run at DOGE, taking a heavy-handed approach to government cuts that raised eyebrows among Republicans and led to numerous lawsuits.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
But many Central and South American nations remain wary of the U.S.
For more than a century, Washington frequently employed heavy-handed tactics with its hemispheric neighbors.
—Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025
Tom criticizes Lana’s meat for being overly rested, Gail thinks her potatoes felt like an afterthought, and Kristen complains about her heavy-handed use of sage.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
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Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Key Background Musk has scaled back his role in the Trump administration in recent weeks after brief but tumultuous run at DOGE, taking a heavy-handed approach to government cuts that raised eyebrows among Republicans and led to numerous lawsuits.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
But many Central and South American nations remain wary of the U.S.
For more than a century, Washington frequently employed heavy-handed tactics with its hemispheric neighbors.
—Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025
Tom criticizes Lana’s meat for being overly rested, Gail thinks her potatoes felt like an afterthought, and Kristen complains about her heavy-handed use of sage.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy-handed. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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