high-handed

[ hahy-han-did ]

adjective

1. condescending or presumptuous; overbearing; arbitrary:

   He has a highhanded manner.

high-handed

adjective

1. tactlessly overbearing and inconsiderate

Derived Forms

• ˌhigh-ˈhandedly, adverb
• ˌhigh-ˈhandedness, noun

Other Words From

• high-handed·ly adverb
• high-handed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of high-handed¹

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

Even supporters admit the way Anderson has introduced the plan has been high-handed.

From The Daily Beast

In the wake of increasingly high-handed bans, taxes, and regulations, smoking is everywhere in retreat.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast to the abrasive and high-handed Zakir, Ibrahim is an admired figure among the insurgents.

From The Daily Beast

And I remember the high-handed behavior of the Obama White House in 2009.

From The Daily Beast

Lessard's high-handed squelching of MacRae had thrown everything out of focus.

From Project Gutenberg

Universal indignation spread through the colonies against this high handed measure of the British king and parliament.

From Project Gutenberg

We have failed entirely to find any sort of protest against such high-handed proceedings.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, the papers got out an extra edition with scare-heads about "Outrages" and "High-handed Lawlessness!"

From Project Gutenberg

"You've no right to take such high-handed action," snarled the master of the tug.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authoritarian
• autocratic
• dictatorial
• imperious
• overbearing
• tyrannical