heavy-handed
adjective
heavy-hand·ed
ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: clumsy
2
: oppressive, harsh
heavy-handedly
adverb
heavy-handedness
noun
Examples of heavy-handed in a Sentence
the new manager's heavy-handed approach soon had employees turning in their letters of resignation
felt heavy-handed and awkward when holding the newborn infant
Recent Examples on the Web
Men, Women, and Children (2014) Sandler is a revelation in a painfully heavy-handed satire.
—
Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 July 2025
Such a heavy-handed approach has, at least according to Israeli official statistics, yielded positive results: compared with 2024, terrorist plots originating in the West Bank are down significantly.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
Meta’s response reflects a broader clash: Big Tech and the Trump administration see EU oversight as heavy-handed and antagonistic, with US president Donald Trump brandishing tariff threats to push back against the bloc’s digital regulations.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
The European Union’s Digital Services Act is a heavy-handed power play designed to silence dissenting voices from the global digital dialogue.
—Lathan Watts, National Review, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
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.
Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 July 2025
Such a heavy-handed approach has, at least according to Israeli official statistics, yielded positive results: compared with 2024, terrorist plots originating in the West Bank are down significantly.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
Meta’s response reflects a broader clash: Big Tech and the Trump administration see EU oversight as heavy-handed and antagonistic, with US president Donald Trump brandishing tariff threats to push back against the bloc’s digital regulations.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
The European Union’s Digital Services Act is a heavy-handed power play designed to silence dissenting voices from the global digital dialogue.
—Lathan Watts, National Review, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for heavy-handed
Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy-handed. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share