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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backhanded
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
On a similar note, Sweet Tea’s comments about Quad’s new man feel a bit backhanded, especially considering she was once married to her current husband.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 9 Dec. 2024
Holland explained how fellow Spider-Man star and girlfriend Zendaya was useful in a sort of backhanded way.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backhanded 
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
On a similar note, Sweet Tea’s comments about Quad’s new man feel a bit backhanded, especially considering she was once married to her current husband.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 9 Dec. 2024
Holland explained how fellow Spider-Man star and girlfriend Zendaya was useful in a sort of backhanded way.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for backhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanded
Adjective
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Tunes that reference country roads and chugging double shots of whiskey sit alongside the duo’s trademark message of fostering hope and connection.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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Having a secondary creator next to him is a welcome development for Curry, who has faced constant double and triple teams this season at age 36 as teammates invite his other four teammates on the floor to beat them.—
Danny Emerman,
The Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Here are the best fake car ads and parodies celebrating SNL's 50th anniversary.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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Yet criminals are impersonating the IRS to trick taxpayers into sharing personal information by texting them fake alerts of their eligibility for extra money, warns the Better Business Bureau.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
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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
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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Shifting from New York to Texas Lively and Reynolds (whose blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine has been dragged directly into this with a January 7 evidence preservation letter sent to Disney and Marvel over the hypocritical Nicepool character) opened up a likely new legal front in Hays County, Texas.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
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Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican of Oklahoma, accused Democrats of being hypocritical for saying Mr. Hegseth was unqualified to lead the Pentagon because he had been intoxicated and cheated on his wife.—
Helene Cooper,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Honest criticism is rude, and insincere praise is — well, insincere.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2025
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Don’t force trendy slang that feels insincere for your brand.—
Noa Eshed,
Forbes,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Randle also is out for the next few weeks because of a strained groin.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
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The team announced Wednesday that Randle has a strained adductor and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even seemingly superficial exchanges have deeper meaning. Need a break?—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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What’s emanating out of her is this quiet, intense truth, coupled with this incredible, superficial vulnerability.—
William Earl,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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