From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhigh-handedˌhigh-ˈhanded adjective POWERusing your authority in an unreasonable way She resented his high-handed manner. high-handed and insensitive management decisions —high-handedly adverb —high-handedness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
high-handed• Some treated their staff in a high-handed and tyrannical way.• Their attitude towards the masses was condescending, high-handed and ultimately dictatorial.• Mr Brown said the planned charges were the last straw for customers already angry over banks' high-handed attitude.• But they will not understand a high-handed decision by the Florida Legislature to take the law into its own hands.• His high-handed dismissal of an outspoken professor brought unwanted national attention to the struggling school.• The company has a reputation for being high-handed in its treatment of clients.• These high-handed tactics were obviously risky, but they were a calculated risk.• The high-handed way in which Washington dropped the idea on its Western partners accounts for some the hostile reaction it has received. 