1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude the manager displayed a high-handed demeanor that increasingly demoralized the members of his staff

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2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high-handed The sociopolitical implications of his story—desperate poverty, harassment by the police, along with exploitation by the boxing business and its high-handed authorities—are balanced by his earnest self-analyses and the detailing of his home life. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 The sociopolitical implications of his story—desperate poverty, harassment by the police, along with exploitation by the boxing business and its high-handed authorities—are balanced by his earnest self-analyses and the detailing of his home life. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 Georgian society, however, has shown increasing signs of fatigue with the former government’s high-handed policies. Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2012 Edward took a story that on paper could be very procedural and high-handed and made something that has this propulsive, edge-of-your-seat, wildly cinematic energy. Brent Lang, Variety, 7 May 2024 This crude and insulting decision is starkly reminiscent of the high-handed Hollywood of the studio era. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Even if Beijing were to resume regular REE sales, alternative sources would remove Beijing’s temptation to high-handed policies. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 With his penchant for high-handed letter writing, Gittins escalated things to the inevitable level. Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-handed
Adjective
  • As the day goes on, Jim goes from a caricature of an arrogant male director to an oddly compelling picture of a pathetic man, moved by spite toward his ex-wife, Anita.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 July 2025
  • Actor Tyler Hilton played Chris Keller, a charming but arrogant musician, on four seasons of the teen soap.
    Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • There are no longer arbitrary divisions in which people say that different functions aren’t their job or concern.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Marylanders deserve a civil justice system that recognizes the full scope of human suffering and empowers citizen juries to render verdicts based on evidence rather than arbitrary limitations.
    Bruce M. Plaxen, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“High-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-handed. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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