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
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Two more were plated on a sacrifice fly from Edman and an off-the-wall double from Smith.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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In the fifth, Bregman hit another two-run double, scoring Rafaela and Devers, to give the Red Sox a 4-1 lead.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Expect more fake eggs made of colored marshmallows or even potatoes on this year’s Easter spread With egg prices stubbornly high, the internet has offered up a host of alternatives, with crafters painting rocks and influencers dyeing everything from marshmallows to potatoes.—
William Lambers,
Hartford Courant,
18 Apr. 2025
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Fooling the government about your fake relationship is one thing, but fooling your family is a whole other challenge of its own.—
Toubee Yang,
Them.,
18 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
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What to Know Condemning Western criticism of Iran's military development as hypocritical, Khamenei stressed the importance of both physical and psychological warfare, according to state media.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested Democrats are being hypocritical about Musk’s involvement, noting that liberals like Pritzker and Soros are also wading into the race.—
Caroline Vakil,
The Hill,
30 Mar. 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
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Overtourism is a serious concern, particularly for smaller ports, where large crowds can have a significant impact, leading to strained infrastructure and affecting local quality of life.—
Jessica Benavides Canepa,
AFAR Media,
17 Apr. 2025
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Forbes reported that the relationship between Natalia and the Mans family became strained in 2023, the same year the couple officially adopted her.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In both cases, the criticism is not completely superficial.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
14 Apr. 2025
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The two who were shot suffered what police called superficial wounds and were hospitalized for their injuries.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backhanded. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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