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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Recent Examples of backhanded
That is not meant as a backhanded compliment, but an indictment of the past regime.
—
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath, Doncic pushed Williams in the lower back, and Williams responded by striking Doncic with a backhanded swing.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
With pressure levels reaching a breaking point, the 29-year-old stepped up and, with one incredible deke and one backhanded flick of her stick, wrote a chapter in this rivalry’s history that will be remembered for quite some time.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
The prevailing positive, in a backhanded compliment sort of way, is that the Aztecs played with No. 1 into the second half and would have pushed the 11-0 Wildcats even deeper had an offense that has been so effective all season not gone Siberian frigid.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
In the aftermath, Doncic pushed Williams in the lower back, and Williams responded by striking Doncic with a backhanded swing.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
With pressure levels reaching a breaking point, the 29-year-old stepped up and, with one incredible deke and one backhanded flick of her stick, wrote a chapter in this rivalry’s history that will be remembered for quite some time.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
The prevailing positive, in a backhanded compliment sort of way, is that the Aztecs played with No. 1 into the second half and would have pushed the 11-0 Wildcats even deeper had an offense that has been so effective all season not gone Siberian frigid.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backhanded
Adjective
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Cancer rates are 30% higher in women aged 20-29 (55 versus 42 per 100,000) compared to males and nearly double in those aged 30-39 (161 versus 84 per 100,000), the American Cancer Society states.—
Tesfaye Negussie,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The Padres responded in the bottom of the first inning with a double, a walk and a drive by Nick Castellanos to left field that was caught above the eight-foot wall by Jordan Beck.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last week accused Meta of failing to remove imposter accounts that Bragg said pose as organizations like Catholic Charities to offer fake immigration services that scam money from unsuspecting victims.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Brooke Sutton / Getty Images The pair allegedly used fake personal financial and bank statements, driver's licenses, and Secretary of State documents in an attempt to trick lenders into believing that the loans were for companies owned by the players.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Nov. 2025
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The pop of color offers a shimmer-free (rare!) means of warming up a wedding look and works equally well at lip level.—
Calin Van Paris,
Vogue,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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How hypocritical that of me, Amy, and Gretchen, the only one married is me.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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That’s not just awkward; that’s hypocritical.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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However, Owens’ mother, Pamela Dias, felt Lorincz’s courtroom apology was insincere.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
7 Apr. 2026
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Using artificial intelligence to compose a social media post in the wake of a tragedy, or using it to write a fan letter to an Olympic athlete, comes off as insincere.—
Gayle Rogers,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rumors about the family's dynamic played out for months until Brooklyn posted a series of posts confirming the strained relationship.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
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The move follows several recent meetups in areas such as Navy Yard, where large groups of teens have flooded streets and strained police resources.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Starring Witherspoon as Woods, the film followed a seemingly superficial sorority president who defies stereotypes by earning a place at Harvard Law School.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
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But economists say the similarities may be largely superficial, thanks to more flexible exchange-rate regimes and deeper foreign exchange reserves, which provide a buffer that helps absorb some of the shock.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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My fellow Americans, certain words have been rendered meaningless in describing the current state of affairs.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
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Not because of their result at the Clippers on Sunday, a 115-110 loss, but because the Warriors finished the ultimately meaningless game with no new injuries, which is all coach Steve Kerr wanted to see.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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