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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of hands-down
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
GoPro still led the pack in slow motion (the Hero13 goes to 400fps in some modes), but could no longer claim to have the hands-down best action camera.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
This is my all-time favorite Jane Austen novel—and hands-down favorite literary love story.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
10 June 2026
But Ramis' best output is hands-down Groundhog Day (1993).
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Convenient and effective, at keeping your beverages cool, yes, but the worst part about most coolers is hands-down the bulkiness.
—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
This is my hands-down favorite purse because of the clever design.
—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
But his hands-down, semi-reckless style typically gives opponents a high offensive floor early in the fight, which has always been a concern of mine.
—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
My favorite sneakers in my closet right now are hands-down this slim Tokyo style from Adidas.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
How to Get Around Renting a car is hands-down the easiest way to explore the peninsula.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
GoPro still led the pack in slow motion (the Hero13 goes to 400fps in some modes), but could no longer claim to have the hands-down best action camera.
—
Jim Fisher,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
This is my all-time favorite Jane Austen novel—and hands-down favorite literary love story.
—
The Week Us,
TheWeek,
10 June 2026
But Ramis' best output is hands-down Groundhog Day (1993).
—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Convenient and effective, at keeping your beverages cool, yes, but the worst part about most coolers is hands-down the bulkiness.
—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
This is my hands-down favorite purse because of the clever design.
—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
But his hands-down, semi-reckless style typically gives opponents a high offensive floor early in the fight, which has always been a concern of mine.
—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2026
My favorite sneakers in my closet right now are hands-down this slim Tokyo style from Adidas.
—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-down
Adjective
-
The interior also comes with a cotton liner, which will be much easier to spot-clean should your cosmetics or snacks leave a stain.
-
Keep in mind that Santorini’s wine story is also an agricultural story, and Gaia makes that easier to feel.
Adverb
-
But the New York Knicks captain and MVP definitely returned the favor in a big way.
-
So the two of you are definitely not hanging up the hat after this?
Adverb
-
Bear detractors may feel that Carmy is getting off too easily in this episode, and that the grace he’s shown is a bit too narratively convenient.
-
Lightweight and easily portable, this cleaner can tackle stains in carpets as well as upholstered furniture, appliances and other surfaces.
Verb
-
Welcome to Latest & Greatest, a franchise that celebrates all the shiniest new beauty launches of the month and informs you what’s worth your time and cash.
-
Or a financial services firm where risk scoring informs underwriting, which informs pricing.
Adjective
-
Morton kosher salt and blend until mostly smooth with no whole pieces of corn left, about 4 minutes.
-
Directions In a large bowl whisk together vanilla pudding mix, whole milk, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl until slightly thickened and smooth, about 1 minute.
Adverb
-
Sometimes, were stymied because the conduct is based, the servers are based, outside of certainly Manhattan, but in many instances outside the United States.
-
The fact that my son and his girlfriend live in Kansas City certainly helped spark our newfound fascination.
Adverb
-
Atlanta companies and commuters have adapted to the inevitable traffic and congestion of the World Cup, finding ways to keep business flowing smoothly while allowing their employees to experience a unique opportunity.
-
However, the rush to launch sites that look as slick as iPhone ads has not always gone smoothly.
Verb
-
The Bureau of Prisons has a drone alert system that notifies prison staff when a drone is nearby, according to court documents.
-
The first step is typically a summons and complaint, which notifies you that legal action has been initiated.
Cite this Entry
“Hands-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-down. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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