Definition of "iron-handed" [iron-handed]

• Exceedingly strong in the hand; hence, rigorously determined or severe; unmerciful.

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "But will people in these countries quietly acquiesce to iron-handed rulers provided they have food on the table, good teachers in good schools and medicines in hospitals?"
• "He built the Zulu kingdom through his military genius - as well as his iron-handed rule."
• "Despite the country's long history of submission to iron-handed regimes, most Soviet politicians admit there's no going back to the totalitarian rule of Stalin's day -- or even Brezhnev's."