Meanings
adjectiveiron-fisted (comparative more iron-fisted, superlative most iron-fisted)
comparative more iron-fisted · superlative most iron-fisted
- derogatoryCharacterized by ruthless control.
In his book, The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution," David Carter offers a detailed and important overview of the iron-fisted state repression during the Cold War.
2005 March 2, Leslie Feinberg, “Even McCarthy was gay baited”, in Workers WorldSynonyms: iron-handed, bossy for others
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveCharacterized by ruthless control.
Similar
iron-handedbossy for others
Origin
From the idea of having an iron fist.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
iron-fisted. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iron-fisted
MLA
“iron-fisted.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iron-fisted. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “iron-fisted,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/iron-fisted.
Source: iron-fisted on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.