1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the manager displayed a high-handed demeanor that increasingly demoralized the members of his staff

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2

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 high-handed The sociopolitical implications of his story—desperate poverty, harassment by the police, along with exploitation by the boxing business and its high-handed authorities—are balanced by his earnest self-analyses and the detailing of his home life. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 The sociopolitical implications of his story—desperate poverty, harassment by the police, along with exploitation by the boxing business and its high-handed authorities—are balanced by his earnest self-analyses and the detailing of his home life. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 Georgian society, however, has shown increasing signs of fatigue with the former government’s high-handed policies. Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2012 Edward took a story that on paper could be very procedural and high-handed and made something that has this propulsive, edge-of-your-seat, wildly cinematic energy. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 May 2024 This crude and insulting decision is starkly reminiscent of the high-handed Hollywood of the studio era. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Even if Beijing were to resume regular REE sales, alternative sources would remove Beijing’s temptation to high-handed policies. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 With his penchant for high-handed letter writing, Gittins escalated things to the inevitable level. Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-handed
Adjective
  • That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The plaintiffs had argued that the geographic targeting order was unlawfully issued without undergoing the notice-and-comment procedures prescribed by federal law and that the rule is arbitrary and capricious under federal law.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In short, protectionism grants states too much arbitrary power to intervene in the market and thus spawns more platforms for the exchange of political favors.
    JAVIER CORRALES, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“High-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-handed. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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