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
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Examples of backhanded in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
The group also gave a backhanded boost to Bailey’s candidacy by funding TV ads that made Bailey simultaneously more attractive to conservative Republican primary voters and less attractive to the more moderate general Illinois electorate.
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Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2024
However, there was much debate and confusion about what the OVO boss had to say, as some interpreted the flowers as a backhanded compliment or even dissing Chingy.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2024
Long-tarred with the backhanded label of ‘the most talented golfer never to win a major,’ the American shredded that tag with a vengeance, scooping both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in a stunning two-month stretch.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 31 July 2024
Brandon Montour made a lazy pass at the blue line, Connor Brown jumped into the passing lane and took off to beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a backhanded breakaway.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for backhanded 
Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2024
However, there was much debate and confusion about what the OVO boss had to say, as some interpreted the flowers as a backhanded compliment or even dissing Chingy.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2024
Long-tarred with the backhanded label of ‘the most talented golfer never to win a major,’ the American shredded that tag with a vengeance, scooping both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in a stunning two-month stretch.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 31 July 2024
Brandon Montour made a lazy pass at the blue line, Connor Brown jumped into the passing lane and took off to beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a backhanded breakaway.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for backhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanded
Adjective
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Should East have pulled his partner’s second double to five clubs?Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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After a fourth-down stop by Northwood’s defense, Keith capitalized on excellent field position by lofting a 12-yard TD to Brennan, who beat double coverage.Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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April 25: Trump is named an unindicted co-conspirator in Arizona fake election scheme charges.Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
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Years after dazzling in primetime by covering herself in fake blood, Gaga had graced the Oscars stage with utmost elegance, capable of evolving her talents and becoming a stately pop spokeswoman.Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While lip reading is commonly used as a way for those with hearing disabilities to understand speech and conversations, it’s also called upon for legal matters and police investigations.Emily Holgate, refinery29.com, 19 Jan. 2024
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Also, lip skin is thinner, making blood vessels more apparent.Scott LaFee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
Adjective
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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
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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
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Some even pointed to an interview Yang recently conducted with the pop star for Interview magazine, claiming that his comments seemed hypocritical in hindsight given the nature of his SNL performance.Stephen Daw, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2024
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Movie masturbation scenes also highlight our culture’s hypocritical double standard.Caroline Madden, Vulture, 8 July 2024
Adjective
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Plying the country’s backroads, the charismatic con men of literature prey on the gullibility of the faithful with insincere pitches for an overpriced product their targets can ill afford.Nolan Finley, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024
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Authenticity Coming across as fake and insincere can sink any branding campaign.Edward Segal, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The lifelong New Yorker explained his decision to pack up for Florida in a 2019 post on the social platform X, citing taxes and his strained relationships with state and local leaders.Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
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In addition, there will need to be some serious operational improvements to remedy the company’s strained relationship with many current and former customers.Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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This stands in contrast to the often superficial engagements seen on mainstream platforms.Gary Weinstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Although more superficial aspects of his middle-eastern culture of 2,000 years ago contrast sharply with our western-capitalist society, other, deeper aspects of the two eras are eerily similar.Leslie Smith Reeves Faith Matters, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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