1
as in harsh
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
the new manager's heavy-handed approach soon had employees turning in their letters of resignation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
felt heavy-handed and awkward when holding the newborn infant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of heavy-handed
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
Trump has also surprised some by taking a heavy-handed approach with private businesses.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
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
Trump has also surprised some by taking a heavy-handed approach with private businesses.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy-handed
Adjective
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According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Even the basic details of the situation can sound like the clumsy plot of some apocalyptic thriller.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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An exceptionally clumsy device.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those strict security measures slowed down traffic and travelers and likely would not be welcome again.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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Loosening restrictions Chinese work visas generally come with strict, complex requirements and allow limited stays for a small group of high-end applicants who are sponsored by employers.—
Peter Guo,
NBC news,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In all of the courses, the pedagogy is an awkward pastiche of traditions, combining Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Slavic paganism, Siberian shamanism, and Asian spiritual practices, spiked with elements of Jungian and American pop psychology.—
Julia Ioffe,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
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Pignato shared a scene from a recent consult with a rival company that wanted advice on how to bring AI into its engineering workflow, and an awkward generational mismatch.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a moving moment of magnanimity, which won’t be given away here, that proves the underlying dignity of a people broken by an authoritarian state.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
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The plot of His Dark Materials is driven by the long-running conflict between Pullman’s heroine, a bold, lithely intelligent 11-year-old named Lyra, and the Magisterium, an authoritarian incarnation of Christianity.—
Lev Grossman,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike psychiatric or weight-loss drugs, finasteride's cosmetic classification may have shielded it from rigorous post-marketing scrutiny.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
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Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Several Dolphins who have been on the team for more than two years said Wednesday that McDaniel was more stern in meetings this week.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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The culling of federal agencies has provoked stern warnings from nonprofit groups and other organizations that work to protect public lands and the agencies that manage them.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy-handed. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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