rule with an iron fist/hand

phrase

chiefly US

: to rule a country, area, group, etc., in a very strict and often cruel way

The dictator ruled (the country) with an iron fist.

Examples of rule with an iron fist/hand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some leaders rule with an iron fist and achieve remarkable results, while others succeed through collaboration and trust. — Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026

Shah won't be a lame duck and is set to rule with an iron fist. — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

Leaders who are accessible and relatable are far more likely to build trust with their teams than those who guard themselves or rule with an iron fist. — Cicely Simpson, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024

The Ruling The Old Georgetown Board seems to rule with an iron fist — just try putting up a neon sign in the neighborhood — but its power is advisory. — Noreen Malone, New York Times, 1 June 2023

But despite modernizations, these monarchs rule with an iron fist. — Ruby Mellen, Washington Post, 4 May 2023

In one of his studies, musicians who worked in symphony orchestras, where many conductors rule with an iron fist, were 21 percent less satisfied with their growth opportunities than players in leaderless string quartets. — Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2021