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Definitions

big stick

NOUN
finesse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acumen competence guile quickness savvy skill sophistication subtlety tact
STRONG
adeptness adroitness artfulness artifice bluff cleverness con craft craftiness cunning delicacy diplomacy discernment discretion feint gimmick polish racket ruse savoir-faire stratagem trick wile
WEAK
grift runaround
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorance inability incapability ineptness
STRONG
frankness honesty openness stupidity truthfulness
NOUN
heavy hand
Synonyms
WEAK
firm hand iron boot iron hand strong hand tight rein tight ship
NOUN
iron hand
Synonyms
WEAK
control firm hand grip heavy hand high hand iron boot iron fist iron rule jackboot mailed fist strong hand tight grasp tight hand tight rein tight ship

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"There has to be a big stick and a big carrot here," he argues.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“We don’t go in with the big stick to begin with,” Morling said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

“I had a big stick, and I was banging on the box, really whaling on it. So he wasn’t just plopped on his feet. Because I wanted him to be alighting down to the ground.”

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2022

Despite the big stick, keeping the quiet has never been easy.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2021

A big stick was on the ground next to Frank.

From "The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)" by Franklin W. Dixon