high-handed

/ˌhaɪ ˈhændɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhaɪ ˈhændɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhī-ˈhan-dəd/ (ame, mw)

high-handed — 形容詞

1. describes a person or an action when they behave as if their own authority is co

1.形容詞B2
釋義

專橫；高壓

不顧他人感受，強勢行使權力

describes a person or an action when they behave as if their own authority is complete and they do not need to listen to anyone else — for example, a manager who imposes new rules without asking staff, or a government that silences critics without a fair process.

例句

The CEO's high-handed decision to fire ten employees without warning angered the whole company.

執行長未經預警就開除十名員工的專橫決定，激怒了全公司。

high-handed + decision — typical noun collocation

Citizens protested against the government's high-handed methods of silencing critics.

民眾抗議政府打壓異議人士的高壓手段。

high-handed + methods — typical noun collocation

同義詞
  • overbearing

    more personal — describes a person's character rather than a specific action or ruling

  • dictatorial

    stronger tone — suggests absolute power, often in a political or institutional setting

  • imperious

    more formal — focuses on a commanding, superior manner

  • arbitrary

    emphasises that the decision is based on personal whim rather than reason or fairness

反義詞
  • considerate

    opposite in the sense of caring about others' feelings

  • democratic

    opposite in the sense of involving others in decisions

  • humble

    opposite attitude — modest rather than arrogantly powerful

用法筆記

This word almost always appears before a noun that describes an action, decision, or way of behaving — e.g. 'decision', 'attitude', 'approach', 'method'. Using it alone as a predicate ('The manager is high-handed') is possible but less common.

常見錯誤

❌The boss was very high-handed with the staff, always smiling and kind.
✅The boss was very high-handed with the staff, firing people without warning.
💡high-handed always carries a negative meaning of harsh, arbitrary authority, not positive or neutral behaviour.
❌She acted high-handedly to help the poor children.
✅The government acted high-handedly when it ignored the public protests.
💡high-handedly implies an abuse of power for selfish reasons, not a helpful act.