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heavy-handed

[ hev-ee-han-did ]

/ ˈhɛv iˈhæn dɪd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR heavy-handed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

oppressive; harsh: a heavy-handed master.

clumsy; graceless: a heavy-handed treatment of the theme.

Origin of heavy-handed

First recorded in 1625–35

OTHER WORDS FROM heavy-handed

heav·y-hand·ed·ly, adverb heav·y-hand·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby heavy-handed

heavy spar, heavy water, heavy-bearded, heavy-duty, heavy-footed, heavy-handed, heavy-hearted, heavy-ion treatment, heavy-laden, heavy-water reactor, heavyset

Example sentences from the Web for heavy-handed

So was the importance of protest itself, which he vowed to protect from the heavy-handed policies employed by his predecessors.

Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall |Jacob Siegel |December 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Heavy-handed police work like that carried out by Burge and, apparently, Evans, gets results.

I Was Beaten By Chicago’s Dirtiest Cop, Lawsuit Contends |Justin Glawe |September 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
She said Mars Hill “engages in heavy-handed discipline through a hierarchical structure.”

Another Mega Church Implodes |Warren Throckmorton |September 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The shooting of Michael Brown and the heavy-handed response by the police that followed has struck a nerve among Muslims.

Michael Brown, Gaza, and Muslim Americans |Dean Obeidallah |August 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The whole scene is so awash with heavy-handed religious imagery you can probably just skip church on Sunday.

‘Resurrection’ Is TV’s Silliest Show and Probably Dead on Arrival |Kevin Fallon |March 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
"If Happy's ghost don't git to playin' music too much," he added with his heavy-handed wit.

The Flying U's Last Stand |B. M. Bower
Sometimes he indulges in pure clowning, which is humorous in a heavy-handed way.

The Vagabond in Literature |Arthur Rickett
Argyll's heavy-handed management of that election is the subject of Defoe's Atalantis Major.

Atalantis Major |Daniel Defoe
John, being the heavy-faced and heavy-handed man, shut the door.

Buried Alive: A Tale of These Days |Arnold Bennett
And doubtless it was the cardinal's heavy-handed dealing with Fra Tomasso that had provoked this particular sermon.

The Saracen: Land of the Infidel |Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for heavy-handed

heavy-handed

adjective

clumsy

harsh and oppressive

Derived forms of heavy-handed

heavy-handedly, adverb heavy-handedness, noun