1
as in clumsiness
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2
as in oppressiveness
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy-handedness
Noun
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The clumsiness feels important in other ways, too.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
23 Oct. 2025 -
Police in Oklahoma witnessed the clumsiness of nature when a wildlife rescue turned from pure-hearted Disney moment into Discovery channel outtake, video shows.—
TJ Macias,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Middleton aimed to create a score that reflects the harshness and hope of the desert setting.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Oct. 2025
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The harshness of the language and the raw politicking shocked voters.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Silva deserves credit for trusting an 18-year-old to shoulder the responsibility, even when King has shown his inexperience.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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For the afternoon shift, players will have to choose between adding Phenomaman or Waterboy (Joel Haver) to the squad, with the former’s crippling depression outweighing his strength and the latter’s inexperience leading to constant missteps.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Every way something rolled back is reinstated is a sign that nothing, not even malevolence, is forever.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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The reality is, the Democrats in Washington are refusing to fund the federal government, while blaming Republicans for their own malevolence.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Comment sections have always attracted hatefulness and resentment; these ones just happen to encourage it more explicitly.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy-handedness. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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