ironhanded

[ ahy-ern-han-did ]

adjective

1. having or governing with an iron hand; strict, harsh, or autocratic:

   The new boss turned out to be an arrogant, ironhanded tyrant.

adverb

1. with an iron hand:

   What makes a politician great is not the ability to rule ironhanded, but an understanding of people and the changing times.

Other Words From

• i·ron·hand·ed·ly adverb
• i·ron·hand·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ironhanded¹

First recorded in 1760–70; iron + handed

Related Words

• accurate
• brutal
• burdensome
• correct
• exacting
• harsh
• meticulous
• onerous
• precise
• proper
• rigid
• scrupulous
• strict
• stringent
• uncompromising