heavy-handed
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.
Opposition leaders and journalists accused police of heavy-handed tactics during weekend demonstrations, as authorities locked down New Delhi on Monday ahead of a fresh rally against the election chief.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
That might be a little heavy-handed when a simple talking-to, or a vote-whipping operation that’s more on top of things, could suffice.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
But the league’s proposal for the 2028 Olympics feels heavy-handed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The film "mucks up Orwell", according to the Wall Street Journal,, external who surmised: "As comedy, the movie is feeble, and as allegory for the socioeconomically literate it is heavy-handed."
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
The picture is not unlike Egypt today, where the government in Cairo keeps power by a combination of tactics, including management of local religious authorities that swerves between heavy-handed intimidation and cynical appeasement.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
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