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.

Scientist Alexandra, 32, refuses to download Max "out of contrariness" to its heavy-handed promotion.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

And for all its heavy-handed writing and mystifying character flourishes, “Tow” manages to be mostly an effective, if silly, story of perseverance, thanks almost entirely to Byrne’s dogged performance.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

A precedent from early-20th-century Britain augurs ill for the heavy-handed U.S. approach.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

There are few scenic accouterments other than some fabulously eerie lighting, suspenseful sound effects and heavy-handed underscoring.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 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