ham-handed

adjective

ham-hand·​ed ˈham-ˌhan-dəd How to pronounce ham-handed (audio)
Synonyms of ham-handednext
: lacking dexterity or grace : heavy-handed
ham-handedly
ˈham-ˌhan-dəd-lē How to pronounce ham-handed (audio)
adverb
ham-handedness
ˈham-ˌhan-dəd-nəs How to pronounce ham-handed (audio)
noun

Synonyms of ham-handed

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Examples of ham-handed in a Sentence

much too ham-handed to use one of those tiny cell phones
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Who doubts the law would be enforced in a ham-handed way, with people being denied the presumption of innocence? — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026 Stearns, whom owner Steve Cohen decided had invented baseball in Milwaukee, got rid of Buck in a ham-handed and tone-deaf way. — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging. — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026 Nowhere is the ham-handed effort more evident than in Texas, where a blend of culture war grievance and incel-targeting rage have circled the sharp-witted but mild-mannered Talarico, whose campaign is shaping up to be a fundraising juggernaut. — Philip Elliott, Time, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ham-handed

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ham-handed was in 1918

Rhymes for ham-handed

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Browse Nearby Words

ham-fisted
ham-handed
Hamhung
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Cite this Entry

“Ham-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ham-handed. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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