as in easy
involving minimal difficulty or effort
after all that worrying, the game for the championship turned out to be a hands-down win
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in definitely
without any question
she is hands down the most gifted musician in the class
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in easily
without difficulty
she'll win the dancing competition hands down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in passes (down)
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in kithes
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of hands-down
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Both want as many records as possible to finish their careers as hands-down the greatest ever.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
This is hands-down my favorite percale cotton duvet cover.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
Welcome back to the most scintillating, compelling, thrilling, and hands-down drunkest literary advice column this side of the lord’s internet.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
This is hands-down a hairstyle that can adapt to any mood and occasion.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Pottery Barn is hands-down one of the best places to find beautiful quilts for year-round use.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
For the dip enthusiasts, this is a hands-down crowdpleaser.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But all these years later, Nintendo has finally beat Midway to it, and to be honest, DKB is probably my favorite game of 2025, hands-down.
—Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
My hands-down favorite room was the bathroom.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Both want as many records as possible to finish their careers as hands-down the greatest ever.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
This is hands-down my favorite percale cotton duvet cover.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
Welcome back to the most scintillating, compelling, thrilling, and hands-down drunkest literary advice column this side of the lord’s internet.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
This is hands-down a hairstyle that can adapt to any mood and occasion.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Pottery Barn is hands-down one of the best places to find beautiful quilts for year-round use.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025
For the dip enthusiasts, this is a hands-down crowdpleaser.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But all these years later, Nintendo has finally beat Midway to it, and to be honest, DKB is probably my favorite game of 2025, hands-down.
—Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-down
Adjective
-
The new method basically deletes climate change from the whole equation, which makes El Niño easier to spot.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Republicans are expected to have a much easier time retaining the Senate than the House, but a loss can’t be ruled out.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The landing page for the band’s site contains 10 new riffs… which, for those hoping for actual new songs from the group, definitely counts as a start.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The whole thing definitely grew legs and ran.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
However, this is most easily observed in the most luminous and/or the most massive stars, such as stars in the asymptotic giant branch phase.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Lighter damage often heals easily on its own, but deeper burns destroy both surface and deeper tissues.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This recipe stars spaghetti and brings together four types of cheeses (including ricotta) for an extra hearty, creamy, and smooth supper.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Activate your wristband for smooth entry and unlock extra safety features, such as adding an emergency contact.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
There will almost certainly be more of these moments this week, as some of the biggest names in AI take to the stage at the AI Impact Summit in India.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Sweating the outcome, certainly – and actually, literally sweating.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
They are carefully balanced so that the rotor spins smoothly without wobbling.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Its peel-and-stick design doesn’t require any drilling, and its durable carbon-steel guide rails glide smoothly.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tracking how clusters assemble across vast stretches of time and space also informs our knowledge of the cosmic web and the cosmological parameters that shape it.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Read Buy or Sell GOOG Stock to understand what informs our current opinion.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That simple sentiment distills what being a Louisianan is about.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
No doubt history would be very different if a citizen’s duty was simple obeyance.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-down. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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