heavy-handed

• Décrit une personne ou une action qui est maladroite, sans tact, ou excessivement brutale et oppressive.

Describes a person or action that is clumsy, insensitive, or overly forceful and oppressive.

1. Clumsy or awkward with handsB2informal

   Lacking dexterity or finesse when using one's hands, often resulting in mistakes or breakage.

   maladroit, lourd dans les gestes

   • He is too heavy-handed to repair the delicate watch.
   • Her heavy-handed approach to pottery often led to cracked pots.
   • The heavy-handed carpenter accidentally split the wood.

   Synonymesawkwardbumblingbutterfingeredclumsyfumblingham-fistedineptmaladroit

   Antonymesadroitdexterousgracefulhandynimbleskillful

2. Overly strict or domineeringB2formal

   Using excessive force, authority, or control in a way that is unfair or oppressive.

   autoritaire, brutal dans l'exercice du pouvoir

   • The manager's heavy-handed tactics made employees feel undervalued.
   • The government's heavy-handed response to the protest was widely criticized.
   • His heavy-handed parenting style caused resentment in his children.

   Synonymesauthoritarianautocraticdictatorialharshhigh-handedimperiousoppressiveoverbearingrepressivetyrannical

   Antonymesgentleindulgentlaissez-fairelenientmildpermissive