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

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 And how many work tasks are done in workplaces every day to satisfy hand-me-down key results and not for the betterment of either employees or customers? — Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hand-me-down

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hand-me-down

Adjective

While imposing administrative burdens, the regulation is expected to supercharge the already booming secondhand fashion market, which grew four times faster than primary retail last year.

— Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
In addition to the sale, Anthro also offers incredible discounts on secondhand NUULY finds, like this cute Linen Blend A-Line Skirt, which was $138 and is now $30.

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 25 June 2026

Definition of secondhand

Noun

Normalizing violence should, in itself, be a red line, and its resumption or threat not reduced to a throwaway remark.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
The most likely scenario would involve Deschamps giving some throwaway World Cup minutes to those players who have not featured a great deal across the previous seven games at this tournament.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of throwaway

Noun

The speculative nattering kicked in at around the same time the last scrap of golden confetti had found a resting place on the turf at, um, New York New Jersey Stadium.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026
Using a long flexible knife or a spoon and working one at a time, carefully loosen and lift both top fillets from bones and remove; clean up small bones and scraps from sides of fillets as needed.

— Alexia Duchêne, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 July 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 25 Jul. 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

vituperate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'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

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes