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.

We are put in charge of making our own way, through tapestries and tea sets, past ancient jug and contemporary sphinx, without heavy-handed authoritative direction.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 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

As mayor he was criticised by rights groups for using the police against street vendors in a heavy-handed manner, as he worked to keep roads clear in the capital and crack down on unlicensed businesses.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 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 was no way I could get heavy-handed and demand that an English person send me money, even if he owed it to me personally.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris