backhanded

adjective

back·​hand·​ed ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd 

1

: indirect, devious

especially : sarcastic

a backhanded compliment

2

: using or made with a backhand

backhandedly adverb

Synonyms

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

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

Marcelo Mayer made a nice backhanded pick and fired across his body for the forceout. —Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 15 June 2025

Gagnon forced another ground ball and a fielder’s choice for the second out, and Faber made a backhanded stab at short and fired across the diamond to beat the runner and escape the inning. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025

To Trump’s backhanded credit, that’s putting it mildly on all counts. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 May 2025

There was nearly a fourth as well, though rookie Kristian Campbell was able to make an impressive backhanded grab in shallow right with his back to the infield in the bottom of the fourth. —Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing backhanded

• backhanded compliment

Rhymes for backhanded

• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded
• remanded
• unbranded
• banded
• branded
• candid
• handed
• landed

Kids Definition

backhanded

adjective

back·​hand·​ed ˈbak-ˈhan-dəd 

1

: backhand entry 2

2

: not sincere

a backhanded compliment