at the hands of

phrase

variants or less commonly at the hand of

: by or through the action of

suffering at the hands of a cruel dictator

Examples of at the hands of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like many Maine officials, Biddeford mayor Liam LaFountain has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero at the hands of a federal agent. — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

This does not appear to be a happy film for anyone worried about environmental disaster at the hands of an oil executive. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 July 2026

That pattern has held since the Revolutionary War, from the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II to today’s active-duty ranks, even as Native nations endured broken treaties, dispossession and federal violence at the hands of the government. — Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

Valerie Castile also spoke about how the deaths of two Minnesotans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal agents during the immigration crackdown in January affected her. — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for at the hands of

• hereinabove
• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove