heavy-handed
adjective
heavy-hand·ed
ˈhe-vē-ˈhan-dəd 
1
: showing a lack of skill : clumsy
The effect achieved is so subtle that, in contrast, much twentieth-century paintwork seems crude and heavy-handed.—
Elizabeth Lambert
2
: oppressive, harsh
a heavy-handed approach to crime
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
But any heavy-handed response to the protests could make the regime vulnerable to strong reaction from US and its allies.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Washington seemed less heavy-handed and intrusive.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Across the region, heavy-handed American tactics will risk spurring backlash and unintended consequences.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has carried on with that tradition, albeit in a more heavy-handed way.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Heavy-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavy-handed. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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