as in double
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
"I'm amazed you did so well" is a bit of a backhanded compliment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of backhanded
That’s probably more of a backhanded compliment than Chaney deserves.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of ‘80s Hair Metal
Petrucci recalls the backhanded compliments of her male peers
Roxy Petrucci knew her talents on the drums were unlike any other — male or female.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
Memes documenting the backhanded—if well-intentioned—line popped up instantaneously.
—Lindy Segal, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2024
Draisaitl was the beneficiary of a beautiful, backhanded pass from Darnell Nurse to further extend the lead before veteran Corey Perry scored from distance.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of ‘80s Hair Metal
Petrucci recalls the backhanded compliments of her male peers
Roxy Petrucci knew her talents on the drums were unlike any other — male or female.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
Memes documenting the backhanded—if well-intentioned—line popped up instantaneously.
—Lindy Segal, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2024
Draisaitl was the beneficiary of a beautiful, backhanded pass from Darnell Nurse to further extend the lead before veteran Corey Perry scored from distance.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanded
Adjective
-
Bernardo Kastrup, a double Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and Philosophy and former CERN scientist, has propounded this thinking and collaborated with leaders like Dr. Faggin.—
Carlo Tortora Brayda,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Unlike the Arizona’s double buckle, this style is designed with an adjustable single strap.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The reports that have gone viral on social media are fake news.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Call scams have been making headlines recently, fueled by the rise in AI threats and urgent but fake banking and technical support calls that push users to install software or transfer money.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Mar. 2025
-
For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The woman is long gone, so Freer has to imagine her consent — in a history so full of gaps, coercion, and disappearance, a pretended connection is better than none at all.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2022
-
What most activates Dunn’s rage is the misogyny that only deepened amid all the pretended freedoms of the counterculture.—
Sam Sacks,
WSJ,
11 Nov. 2022
Adjective
-
Conclave depicts the Catholic church at an inflection point, with warring political factions proving themselves vain, self-serving, and hypocritical in their pursuit of power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
As resident jester at the maverick journalism outlet The Free Press, Nellie Bowles scours the news for the absurd and hypocritical, and then skewers the best of the worst in her column, TGIF.—
Roy Rivenburg,
The Christian Science Monitor,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
For some readers, such accolades read as insincere or overwrought.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Honest criticism is rude, and insincere praise is — well, insincere.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
For years, Knight has hinted at Snoop’s alleged jealousy of Tupac, believing that the East Coast-West Coast rivalry and personal tensions led to strained relationships within their inner circle.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
25 Feb. 2025
-
State of play: DeSantis and Trump have long had a strained relationship.—
Ivana Saric,
Axios,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There are a couple of superficial parallels to the present day.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
-
But her natural effervescence is largely wasted by an execution that’s so painfully superficial the show feels like a parody of itself.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to backhanded
Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share