HAND-ME-DOWN Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

hand-me-down 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hand-me-down

as in secondhand

owned or used by someone after it had been owned or used by someone else

—used especially of clothing He was wearing an old, hand-me-down jacket.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

hand-me-down

2 of 2

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hand-me-down

Adjective

It was filled with hand-me-downs from family and friends, plus a mix of cheap, cheerful pieces that got the job done. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 Retail or hand-me-down, these unwanted gifts take up not just physical but emotional space as well. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 8 May 2026 These are hand-me-down stories, delivered in a familiar fashion, distinguished by an expert sense of craft. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026 Young musicians get their first guitar lots of different ways — as a hand-me-down, a birthday present or with cash earned from mowing grass. — Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down

Adjective

Vintage children’s books are one of the easiest ways to start a secondhand nursery collection.

— Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026
But the designer version is difficult to find, even secondhand, and costs a hefty $1,090.

— Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of secondhand

Noun

On Survivor, the strongest castaways are often eliminated early because they are perceived as threats.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Gilligan’s Island, American television sitcom about a group of castaways on a desert island and the chaos that ensues as their attempts at rescue are constantly thwarted.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of castaway

Noun

Production counts are entered at shift end, scrap is recorded after inspection, downtime is logged manually, and energy consumption is often allocated rather than measured.

— Claudio Laterreur, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
This eco-friendly alternative avoids chemical separation and repurposes aviation and industrial scrap into valuable materials for thermal insulation, acoustic absorption, and marine oil spill cleanup.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrap

Browse Nearby Words

handmaidens

hand-me-down

hand-me-downs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hand-me-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hand-me-down. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hand-me-down

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

prowess

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes