heavy-handed

adjective

heavy-hand·​ed ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd How to pronounce heavy-handed (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If the script is a tad heavy-handed in making Clara seem almost indifferent to her mother’s suffering, Touzani is too generous a director not to allow the character some redeeming displays of conscience before the domestic drama plays out. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025 Considering how heavy-handed stories of this kind often are, the restraint that Wyatt and co-writers Erica Beeney, Gary Ross and David Self show here is commendable. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 2 Oct. 2025 The heavy-handed Wu, who won 72% of the vote in this month’s preliminary election, forcing her only opponent to drop out, apparently wants more. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 However, heavy-handed immigration tactics have eroded some of those gains. Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heavy-handed was in 1647

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy-handed. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

heavy-handed

adjective
heavy-hand·​ed
ˌhev-ē-ˈhan-dəd
1
2
: severe or harsh in dealing with others

More from Merriam-Webster on heavy-handed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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