heavy-handed

adjective
UK: /ˌheviˈhændɪd/
US: /ˌheviˈhændɪd/

  1. Using too much force or authority; not sensitive to others.

    1. The police were accused of being heavy-handed in their response to the protests.
    2. His heavy-handed approach to management created a tense and unpleasant work environment, leading to low morale among the employees.

  2. Clumsy or lacking subtlety.

    1. The chef was a bit heavy-handed with the salt.
    2. The play's message was delivered in a rather heavy-handed way, leaving little room for audience interpretation.

Synonyms

brutal clumsy insensitive obvious oppressive

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "heavy-handed" in English means: Using too much force or authority; not sensitive to others., Clumsy or lacking subtlety..

The phonetic transcription of "heavy-handed" is /ˌheviˈhændɪd/ in British English and /ˌheviˈhændɪd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "heavy-handed": brutal, clumsy, insensitive, obvious, oppressive.

Example usage of "heavy-handed": "The police were accused of being heavy-handed in their response to the protests.". More examples on the page.