backhanded
adjective
back·hand·ed
ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd 
2
: using or made with a backhand
backhandedly
adverb
Examples of backhanded in a Sentence
We were disappointed by his backhanded apology.
“You throw okay, for a girl” is a bit of a backhanded compliment
Recent Examples on the Web
This biting insult about nails Cristal is queen of the backhanded compliment.
—
Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Still, Pet Sematary is surprisingly, enjoyably watchable, which is a bit of a backhanded compliment for an adaptation of something so dark.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
But, in a way, even this backlash is a backhanded recognition of the moment; the Administration, and its supporters in the fossil-fuel industry, clearly consider this the last possible moment to stifle the sun.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Marcelo Mayer made a nice backhanded pick and fired across his body for the forceout.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
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Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Still, Pet Sematary is surprisingly, enjoyably watchable, which is a bit of a backhanded compliment for an adaptation of something so dark.
—James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
But, in a way, even this backlash is a backhanded recognition of the moment; the Administration, and its supporters in the fossil-fuel industry, clearly consider this the last possible moment to stifle the sun.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Marcelo Mayer made a nice backhanded pick and fired across his body for the forceout.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backhanded. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backhanded
adjective
back·hand·ed
ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd
1
2
: not sincere
a backhanded compliment
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