Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Close-fisted; covetous.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Closefisted; stingy; mean.
  • adjective Ruthless; tyrranical; allowing no opposition.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Alternative spelling of iron-fisted.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The call for elections came a day after Mubarak stepped down, forced out by mass protests against his ironfisted 30-year rule.

    Palestinians to hold elections by September 2011

  • Mrs. Tremain, the ironfisted matriarch of the wealthiest family in New Chicago, marched inside on a cloud of expensive perfume.

    Ecstasy in Darkness Gena Showalter 2010

  • Mrs. Tremain, the ironfisted matriarch of the wealthiest family in New Chicago, marched inside on a cloud of expensive perfume.

    Ecstasy in Darkness Gena Showalter 2010

  • The U.S. helping hand no longer heals the "needy people" of Ethiopia; regrettably, it has become the brass knuckle of ironfisted dictators.

    Alemayehu G. Mariam: Reflections on Thanksgiving in America Alemayehu G. Mariam 2010

  • The underlying sentiment, though, is that Taiwanese do not feel that they have any unfinished business with the Japanese in the same way that they do with the early KMT marauders; that the Japanese for all of their ironfisted control did not exhibit the same sense of wanton cruelty that was so characteristic of the post-WWII governance by the KMT.

    New cross-strait links and services go online today Michael Turton 2008

  • She struggled and twisted, trying to escape her attackers ironfisted grasp.

    Cruel Intent J.A. Jance 2008

  • At Friday prayers, Moulvi Mohammed Farooq often criticized India's ironfisted administration of the I predominantly Muslim state.

    One Step Closer To War 2008

  • Stoller considers the episode typical of UnitedHealth's attitude of putting profit before medical care and trimming coverage without warning -- a view shared by other physicians who see the insurer as ironfisted in reimbursement and largely absent in communicating with doctors.

    UnitedHealth Service Problems 2008

  • Right now, she needs to be an ironfisted boss - it's how she's able to cope with her son's illness.

    What Doesn't Kill Ya, Makes You Stronger Sage 2008

  • Right now, she needs to be an ironfisted boss - it's how she's able to cope with her son's illness.

    Archive 2008-06-01 Sage 2008

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