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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Recent Examples of backhanded
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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Players will have to balance their double lives as shopkeepers by day and warriors by night.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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For comparison, to even come close to matching the healthcare provided to federal prisoners, funding in Indian Country would have to at least double, according to the National Congress of American Indians.Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The 10 electors have not been charged criminally related to the fake documents.Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
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And even worse than that, fake books that are literally empty inside.Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 13 Dec. 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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Beyond being misguided, those who have followed the career of Coach (now Senator) Tuberville know that these comments are highly hypocritical.Joe Sabin, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
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McKissic writes that evangelical leaders' acceptance of Trump despite his alleged immoral conduct is hypocritical, contrasting it with their past condemnation of former President Bill Clinton's indiscretions.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Think of nervous smiles, insincere smiles, and smirks.Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
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His argument: propaganda does not always have to be insincere or untrue.Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Set in a fictional North Carolina town, One Tree Hill begins as a story about two half-brothers, Lucas (Murray) and Nathan (Lafferty), with a strained relationship forced to navigate high school together whose social circles eventually intersect.Denise Petski, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
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Despite their closeness, the poster describes a strained relationship with Jenny's daughter, Ellie, who is 16.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Beyond Surface Solutions Many companies default to superficial fixes: elaborate office perks that go unused, engagement surveys that collect dust with no follow-up action, values statements that ring hollow, town halls where few speak up and cultural initiatives that feel forced.Louis Carter, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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Powerhouse Pluto pushes Venus to go deep, shedding superficial facades in our connections and confronting what’s truly meaningful.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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