1
as in clumsiness
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2
as in oppressiveness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heavy-handedness
The heavy-handedness provoked a public backlash, and Disney, faced with skyrocketing rates of subscription cancellations, reinstated the late-night host.
—
Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy-handedness
Noun
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O’Hara sinks into the role, embracing the inherent clumsiness of community theater while celebrating its flaws.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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On immigration enforcement—Trump’s signature issue—the brutality and clumsiness of the mass-deportation campaign has decreased public support for the president’s agenda and increased the number of Americans who strongly disapprove of ICE.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The tinted visor that Morgan Geekie wore for two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in January could help mute the lights’ harshness.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Seoul 1988 Retinal Eye Cream Viral for using retinal (stronger than retinol) in a liposome delivery system for smoother texture without harshness.—
Corein Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The question, then, is why Florida opted for the route of inexperience.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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That leaves a choice between Jefferson Lerma, who is not a natural centre-back having largely played in midfield, Jaydee Canvot, whose inexperience has shown in his inconsistent performances and Chadi Riad, who has spent most of the past 18 months out injured.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Almost: Childhood is both bliss and terror, and the Richard D. James Album takes care to wrap malevolence and innocence tightly into the same steel coil.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
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There are cheerful barging amateurs, happy to be bounced about, and there are prowling malevolences, waiting for the moment to blindside someone or chuck an elbow in their face.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 Dec. 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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These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 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
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy-handedness. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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