Hardhanded

Origin

From the firmness of a strike of man's hand

Alternative forms

• hard-handed
• hard handed

Full definition of hardhanded

Adjective

1. forceful, excessive, draconian, or abusive
• 1869, Thomas Carlyle, Thomas Carlyle's Collected works: Volume 9, page 207To deliver out of that Egyptian bondage to Wretchedness, and Ignorance, and Sin, the hardhanded millions
• 2008, Ben Shapiro, Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House, page 4Martin Van Buren—plain, republican, hardhanded-democratic- locofoco Martin Van Buren—has East Room now garnished with gold framed mirrors 'as big as a barn door,'
• 2011, Robin Hobb, Dragon Keeper: Volume One of the Rain Wilds Chronicles, page 409He's a hard man, hardhanded, hard-hearted, he doesn't strike me.

Synonyms

• strict
• heavy-handed

Antonyms

• soft-handed
• lenient