iron-fisted

From the idea of having an iron fist.

iron-fisted (comparative more iron-fisted, superlative most iron-fisted)

1. (derogatory) Characterized by ruthless control.
   • 2005 March 2, Leslie Feinberg, “Even McCarthy was gay baited”, in Workers World‎:

     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.

• iron-handed; see Thesaurus:bossy for others

• definitors, nostrified