hardhanded

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈhan-dəd How to pronounce hardhanded (audio)
Definition of hardhandednext
as in tough
difficult to endure the hardhanded rule of a tyrannical regime

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardhanded
  1. tough
  2. harsh
  3. hard
  4. rough
  5. oppressive
  6. trying
  7. brutal
  8. severe
Adjective
  • The Heat now returns home, but the competition is about to get tougher.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Councilwoman Willis has been a tough negotiator, challenging us to work with the City of Dallas transportation department to identify and fund meaningful traffic enhancements.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Martha Stewart is asking Americans for forgiveness after her Halloween costume drew harsh criticism.
    — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Held without charge, al-Sakani says he was subjected to harsh conditions, including sleep deprivation, inadequate medical care and the withholding of medication.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The Chiefs have a far more difficult remaining schedule (eighth hardest) than the Broncos do (27th), per DVOA data.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The hardest part is often matching the format to the problem rather than simply choosing what’s most convenient.
    — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • As the Heat searches for positives amid its rough start to the season, the bench rotation continues to evolve.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • At the Shore, onshore winds could create rough surf, hazardous boating conditions, and some tidal flooding, although the extent of coastal impacts will depend heavily on the storm's track and how long winds remain onshore.
    — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • The centers collect revenue and basically deposit their tax revenue to the state and local governments without collateral effects such as larger class sizes and oppressive gridlock.
    — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 11 Nov. 2026
  • That’s why for Thanksgiving there won’t be a firm, oppressive waistband in sight.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • Either way, a spot in the round of 32 would be a just reward for a team that is unbeaten two games into what has been an extremely trying tournament off the field.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • More than half of the search-and-rescue workers who show up for the most trying missions are BUSARs.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of trying
Adjective
  • Once home to a few hundred people, Potrerillos is now nearly deserted — a pueblo fantasma, or ghost town — one of many in a region where residents have abandoned their homes amid a brutal war between factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
    — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
  • It’s been roughly three years since Russia launched its unprovoked, brutal invasion into Ukraine.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said Siedlecki’s husband and the child’s father, Hussein Ali Abughazaleh, placed Jannah in a bathtub filled with scalding water, causing severe burns to more than 30% of her body.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The physician described sustained severe soft-tissue injuries to his lower back and buttocks.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2026
Definition of severe
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hard goods
hardhanded
hardhandedness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hardhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardhanded. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of lissome

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All