| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective
1. : awkward or clumsy in or as if in the use of the hands: as
a. : having the hands seem heavy especially from fatigue
b. dialect , of a cook or server : inclined to be overgenerous
heavy-handed with the potatoes
much too heavy-handed with salt
c. : lacking or deficient in lightness, grace, or sparkle
a heavy-handed didactic style
2. : inclined to punish severely
grandfather was heavy-handed with his own children but very indulgent with us grandchildren
broadly : harshly oppressive
heavy-handed tyranny
• heavy-handedly adverb
• heavy-handedness noun -es