heavy-handed

UK: /ˌhɛviˈhændɪd/ US: /ˈhɛviˈhændɪd/ ,(hev′ē han′did)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

heav•y-hand•ed /ˈhɛviˈhændɪd/   adj. 

1. clumsy;
   without grace or sensitivity:
   heavy-handed criticism.
2. oppressive;
   harsh:
   a heavy-handed dictator.

heav•y--hand•ed•ly, adv. 
heav•y--hand•ed•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

heav•y-hand•ed  (hev′ē han′did), adj. 

1. oppressive;
   harsh:
   a heavy-handed master.
2. clumsy;
   graceless:
   a heavy-handed treatment of the theme.

• 1625–35

heav′y-hand′ed•ly, adv. 
heav′y-hand′ed•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

heavy-handed adjective

1. clumsy
2. harsh and oppressive

ˌheavy-ˈhandedly adverb

ˌheavy-ˈhandedness noun