double-edged sword
noun
: something that has or can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences
This much freedom of expression and opinion can be a double-edged sword.—
Linda Connors
Linda ConnorsExamples of double-edged sword in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And then there is the election that has turned some of Janey’s former allies into her competitors and the mayor’s office into a coveted but double-edged sword.
—BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2021
But the bountiful precipitation has also been a double-edged sword, creating a political challenge for negotiators trying to agree on painful cuts, according to analysts following the talks.
—Joshua Partlow, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Feb. 2023
As Damian explains, ambition can be a double-edged sword.
—Gen Handley, SPIN, 27 Jan. 2023
This is essential for any organization, small or large, as experience can often be a double-edged sword.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for double-edged sword
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BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2021
But the bountiful precipitation has also been a double-edged sword, creating a political challenge for negotiators trying to agree on painful cuts, according to analysts following the talks.
—Joshua Partlow, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Feb. 2023
As Damian explains, ambition can be a double-edged sword.
—Gen Handley, SPIN, 27 Jan. 2023
This is essential for any organization, small or large, as experience can often be a double-edged sword.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for double-edged sword
Cite this Entry
“Double-edged sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-edged%20sword. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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