1
as in clumsiness
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in oppressiveness
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of heavy-handedness
Granted, there was a lot to criticize in my writing, which was suffering from all sorts of problems, from structural incoherence to insufficient character development to—yes—didactic heavy-handedness that broke the reader’s immersion.
—
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Ziegler’s humor and sympathy for her characters—including Creon, who desperately wants to do right by everyone—saves the conflict between individual and state from heavy-handedness.
—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
The Hims & Hers ad is shrewd in its heavy-handedness.
—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Beijing was selected over Almaty, Kazakhstan, as the 2022 host city after four other candidates, including Oslo and Stockholm, withdrew citing costs, high public opposition and IOC heavy-handedness.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Ziegler’s humor and sympathy for her characters—including Creon, who desperately wants to do right by everyone—saves the conflict between individual and state from heavy-handedness.
—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
The Hims & Hers ad is shrewd in its heavy-handedness.
—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Beijing was selected over Almaty, Kazakhstan, as the 2022 host city after four other candidates, including Oslo and Stockholm, withdrew citing costs, high public opposition and IOC heavy-handedness.
—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy-handedness
Noun
-
In January 2024, Lola was diagnosed with leukemia after her parents initially mistook bruises appearing across her body for childhood clumsiness.
-
The tree, which graces a botanical garden, bears patient witness to all manner of human clumsiness.
Noun
-
The harshness of the response suggested that after nearly five decades of trying to negotiate with the SSPX, the Holy See has had enough.
-
The harshness of the response suggested that after trying to negotiate with the SSPX, the Vatican under Leo XIV had had enough.
Noun
-
This journalistic cynicism amid government ham-handedness shattered something precious too.
-
Only when Bouzid deals with the repercussions of homophobic Tunisian laws does the melodrama tip into ham-handedness.
Noun
-
The rise of Santa Muerte The other folk saint tied to narco culture is Santa Muerte, whose Grim Reaper appearance and relative obscurity prompt assumptions of malevolence.
-
Trying to find charm and not having malevolence as the intention, not trying to be evil, let the brilliant writing do that.
Noun
-
Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips, two defensive tackles who cut their teeth as starters in their rookie season, can’t blame this upcoming season’s struggles on youth and inexperience because last year’s playing time was an investment made with the intention of speeding up their development.
-
Most founder overwhelm is just inexperience without context.
Noun
-
Sometimes the irony turns bitter and, with a typically Eastern European sensibility, highlights the paradoxes of institutions, as well as the madness and meanness born from the pursuit and preservation of power.
-
After 1965, when African Americans’ right to vote was constitutionally recognized, the meanness continued.
Noun
-
There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
Noun
-
Rather than pursuing code maliciousness, limit code behavior regarding networking calls, file accesses and memory execution.
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy-handedness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
