iron-fisted
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.
The bespectacled and diminutive officer became military chief in 2011, as Myanmar broke with its history of iron-fisted martial rule and began its latest experiment with democracy.
From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025
A key focus will be if he seeks to steer Cambodia out of the orbit of China and patch up ties with the United States that have perennially been strained by his father's iron-fisted approach.
From Reuters • Jul. 22, 2023
For now, however, Wagner’s clients seem prepared to take Moscow at its word, perhaps unwilling or in some cases, frightened, to contemplate governing without the group’s iron-fisted backing.
From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023
But many opposition figures say they are already battling intense government repression similar to that during Mugabe’s iron-fisted rule.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 28, 2022
That spring, we had felt a certain thawing on the part of the authorities, a relaxation of the iron-fisted discipline that had prevailed on the island.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
