velvet glove

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.

“That velvet glove can come off, and the people know it can come off,” but mostly, you want them to comply because it feels like “just what has to be.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

“We’ve got to a point where we can no longer be able to afford the velvet glove diplomacy.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 16, 2023

As overlord, you can rule your gang with either velvet glove or iron fist.

From The Guardian • Dec. 11, 2019

“It’s nice if you can put a velvet glove over the iron fist.”

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2018

He had seen also something of the forces which controlled them, caught glimpses of the iron hand in the velvet glove, a hand that was not so sure and steady as in days gone by.

From Poor Man's Rock by Johnson, Frank Tenney