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
That faint praise is a backhanded tribute to the success of DEI campaigns, even as many Americans still scratch their heads in confusion over what DEI really is.
—
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Critics liked it well enough, but often in a backhanded way, calling it a very good television movie.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Tavares made a backhanded scoop, lifting the puck toward the front of the net.
—Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
That’s probably more of a backhanded compliment than Chaney deserves.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Critics liked it well enough, but often in a backhanded way, calling it a very good television movie.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Tavares made a backhanded scoop, lifting the puck toward the front of the net.
—Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
That’s probably more of a backhanded compliment than Chaney deserves.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanded
Adjective
-
Over 500,000 tourists poured into Rio, more than double what was expected.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
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Outside of two walks to Marcell Ozuna — who won an 11-pitch battle in the first inning, and a six-pitch duel in the fourth — the Braves mustered nothing until a two-out double by Austin Riley in the sixth.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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With digital platforms flooded with bots and fake numbers, Kerns built his following and client base by offering true engagement, authority, and working systems.—
Rhiannon Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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One way bots attack businesses is by creating fake accounts that can cash in on incentives like referral credit, discounts and promotions.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
2 Mar. 2025
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For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
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
-
Conclave depicts the Catholic church at an inflection point, with warring political factions proving themselves vain, self-serving, and hypocritical in their pursuit of power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Kennedy’s hypocritical approach to public health puts us all at risk, warns columnist Robin Abcarian.—
Shelby Grad,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But this insincere hack rudely assumes that children can’t tell the difference between a simple, nice thing and a more complicated, far inferior thing.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
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The Baldwins shame him, but their righteous indignation feels insincere considering Baldwin wasn’t using her name in that footage with detectives.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Burns had a strained relationship with his own father, and the Salarnos took him in as one of their own.—
Gabriella Demirdjian,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
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Text messages sent in the hours leading up to O’Keefe’s death read aloud to the court by a Massachusetts state trooper show the couple were at a strained point in their relationship.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Make two superficial cross-shaped incisions on the bottom of the tomato.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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Today’s discerning travelers prioritize cultural depth, architectural storytelling, and a sense of place over superficial opulence.—
Paul Jebara,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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