heavy-handedadj.
1. (a) Having the hands heavy from physical incapacity or weariness. (b) ‘Clumsy; not active or dextrous’ (Webster 1828).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > specific limbs
leaden1578
leg-weary1629
heavy-handeda1634
leg-tired1740
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective] > having weak hands
weak-handed1539
heavy-handeda1634
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > clumsy or awkward > clumsy with the hands
handless1483
left-handed1579
butterfingered1615
heavy-handeda1634
thumbless1648
unhandy1669
mutton-fisted1737
two-fisted1774
numb-handed1849
butterfingers1851
buttery-fingered1853
cack-handed1854
Marlborough-handed1893
thumb-fingered1903
thumby1909
ham-handed1918
ham-fisted1928
a1634 W. Austin Devotionis Augustinianæ Flamma (1635) 137 If we grow weary (like Moses who was heavy-handed) yet let Aaron and Hur..lift them up againe.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Heb. v. 11) Slow-paced and heavy-handed.
2. Having the hands laden; full-handed.
ΚΠ
1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. iii. 117 They came back heavy-handed with droves and flocks.
3.
a. Oppressive; overbearing.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > [adjective] > domineering or overbearing
masterfulc1390
pontificalc1440
overmasterfula1450
headya1513
imperious1529
supercilious1536
masterlya1544
termagant1546
law-like1556
masterlike1580
dictator-like1582
peremptory1590
domineering1598
burly1605
high-handed1606
pontificial1613
lording1629
overlordingc1629
pontifician1629
peremptor1630
dictatory1639
predominant1642
dictatorial1692
pontific1716
overbearing1718
dictativea1774
knock-me-down1848
imponenta1882
bossy1882
heavy-handed1883
seigneurial1970
1883 B. M. Croker Pretty Miss Neville (1884) xvi. 143 Some day Nemesis will arrive heavy-handed, in the shape of a couple of pretty grown-up daughters.
b. Of a joke, humour, etc.: clumsy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [adjective] > humorous or jesting > other qualities of jests or humour
unwormwooded1628
ledger1655
canny1874
heavy-handed1910
off-colour1915
Dad and Dave1935
sick1959
observational1981
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > inelegance > [adjective] > ponderous
ponderous1603
blottesque1856
heavy-handed1910
1910 A. C. Benson Diary 7 Dec. (1926) 199 Their jokes are very heavy-handed, and generally involve discomfort for the victim.
1934 Amer. Speech 9 158/2 The work of heavy-handed humorists.
Derivatives
heavy-ˈhandedness n. heaviness of hand; the opposite of lightness of hand.
ΚΠ
1892 Athenæum 26 Nov. 736/2 The dialogue gives an impression of heavy-handedness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.a1634