high-handedness

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia.

Related to high-handedness: hubristically, sidle up

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

high-handedness - overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

arrogance, haughtiness, hauteur, lordliness

superbia, pride - unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)

condescension, disdainfulness, superciliousness - the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior

contemptuousness - the manifestation of scorn and contempt; "every subordinate sensed his contemptuousness and hated him in return"

hubris - overbearing pride or presumption

domineeringness, imperiousness, overbearingness - the trait of being imperious and overbearing

superiority - displaying a sense of being better than others; "he hated the white man's superiority and condescension"

snobbery, snobbishness, snobbism - the trait of condescending to those of lower social status

Translations

high-handedness

[ˌhaɪˈhændɪdnɪs] n → dispotismo, autoritarismo

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

high

(hai) adjective

1. at, from, or reaching up to, a great distance from ground-level, sea-level etc. a high mountain; a high dive; a dive from the high diving-board.

2. having a particular height. This building is about 20 metres high; My horse is fifteen hands high.

3. great; large; considerable. The car was travelling at high speed; He has a high opinion of her work; They charge high prices; high hopes; The child has a high fever/temperature.

4. most important; very important. the high altar in a church; Important criminal trials are held at the High Court; a high official.

5. noble; good. high ideals.

6. (of a wind) strong. The wind is high tonight.

7. (of sounds) at or towards the top of a (musical) range. a high note.

8. (of voices) like a child's voice (rather than like a man's). He still speaks in a high voice.

9. (of food, especially meat) beginning to go bad.

10. having great value. Aces and kings are high cards.

adverb

at, or to, a great distance from ground-level, sea-level etc. The plane was flying high in the sky; He'll rise high in his profession.

ˈhighly adverb

1. very; very much. highly delighted; highly paid; I value the book highly.

2. with approval. He thinks/speaks very highly of you.

ˈhighness noun

1. the state or quality of being high.

2. a title of a prince, princess etc. Your Highness; Her Highness.

ˈhigh-chair noun

a chair with long legs, used by a baby or young child at mealtimes.

ˌhigh-ˈclass adjective

of high quality. This is a high-class hotel.

higher education

education beyond the level of secondary school education, eg at a university.

high fidelity high quality and great accuracy (in the reproduction of sound). See also hi-fi

ˌhigh-ˈhanded adjective

done, acting, without consultation of, or consideration for, other people. a high-handed decision; A new headmaster should try not to be too high-handed.

ˌhigh-ˈhandedly adverb

ˌhigh-ˈhandedness noun

high jump

a sports contest in which people jump over a bar which is raised until no-one can jump over it.

ˈhighlands noun plural

a mountainous part of certain countries, especially (with capital) of Scotland.

ˈhigh-level adjective

involving important people. high-level talks.

ˈhighlight noun

the best or most memorable event, experience, part of something etc. The highlight of our holiday was a trip to a brewery.

verb

to draw particular attention to (a person, thing etc).

ˌhighly-ˈstrung adjective

very nervous; very easily upset or excited.

ˌhigh-ˈminded adjective

having or showing good or noble ideals, principles etc.

ˌhigh-ˈmindedness noun

ˌhigh-ˈpitched adjective

(of sounds, voices etc) high, sharp. a high-pitched, childish voice.

ˌhigh-ˈpowered adjective

(with an engine which is) very powerful. a high-powered motorboat/engine.

ˈhigh-rise adjective

with many storeys. She does not like living in a high-rise flat as the children cannot get out to play easily.

ˈhighroad noun

a main road.

high school

a secondary school. She goes to high school next year.

ˌhigh-ˈspirited adjective

showing high spirits. a high-spirited horse.

high spirits

enthusiasm, cheerfulness and energy. He's in high spirits today.

high street

(with capital when used as a name) the main street of a town etc, usually with shops etc.

high-tech (ˌhai ˈtek) noun

(also hi-tech, ~high technology) the use of advanced machines and equipment in industry.

adjective

(also hi-tech). high-tech industries.

high tide

the time when the tide is farthest up the shore. High tide today is at 15.46; They set sail at high tide.

high treasontreasonhigh water

the time at which the tide or other water (eg a river) is at its highest point.

ˈhighway noun

a road, especially a large or main road.

Highway Code

in Britain, (a booklet containing) a set of official rules for road users.

ˈhighwayman – plural ˈhighwaymen – noun

in earlier times, a man usually on horseback, who attacked and robbed people travelling in coaches etc on public roads.

high wirewirehigh and dry

1. (of boats) on the shore; out of the water. The boat was left high and dry of the beach.

2. in difficulties. Her husband has left her high and dry without any money.

high and low

everywhere. I've searched high and low for that book.

high and mighty

behaving as if one thinks one is very important. Don't be so high and mighty – you're just like any one of us.

the high seas

the open seas; far from land.

it is etc high time

something ought to be done or have been done etc by now. It is high time that this job was finished; It's high time someone spanked that child.