backhanded

back·hand·ed

adjective \ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd\

Definition of BACKHANDED

1

: indirect, devious; especially : sarcastic <a backhanded compliment>

2

: using or made with a backhand

— back·hand·ed·ly adverb

Examples of BACKHANDED

1. We were disappointed by his backhanded apology.
2. <“You throw okay, for a girl” is a bit of a backhanded compliment>

First Known Use of BACKHANDED

1800

Related to BACKHANDED

Synonyms

artificial, insincere, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, Janus-faced, jive [slang], left-handed, lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony (also phoney), phony-baloney (or phoney-baloney), pretended, two-faced, unctuous

Antonyms

artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned

Related Words

affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural; empty, hollow, meaningless; deceitful, devious, dishonest, false, untruthful; facile, glib, superficial; bogus, sham; campy, facetious, jocular, tongue-in-cheek; canting, pharisaical, pious, sanctimonious, self-righteous, simon-pure

Near Antonyms

direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Rhymes with BACKHANDED

bare-handed, cleanhanded, crossbanded, forehanded, four-handed, freehanded, ham-handed, hardhanded, high-handed, ironhanded, left-handed, light-handed, offhanded, one-handed, red-handed, right-handed, shorthanded, sure-handed, three-handed, two-handed, unbranded, verandaed