hands-down 1 of 3

Definition of hands-downnext

hands down

2 of 3

adverb

hands down

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of hand down

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 hands-down
Adjective
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 Twinning with Hathaway would be thrilling at any point, but especially so with my hands-down favorite pair of sweats. Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 4 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 Best Mid Size 3-Row SUV Hyundai Palisade Redesigned for 2026, the even more modern and luxurious Hyundai Palisade was hands-down our judges favorite. Scotty Reiss, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026 But for now the Guggenheim Dodgers are the best at spending their money, have the best head of baseball operations in Andrew Friedman, have the hands-down best manager in Dave Roberts. Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026 My hands-down favorite room was the bathroom. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-down
Adjective
  • Alaves should be similarly worried, according to Opta’s model, facing both of the top two before the season is out, while Sevilla do not have it easy after a massive game at Levante on Wednesday.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Companion plants are an eco-friendly way to keep pests out of your garden without chemical pesticides and an easy way to boost the production of your favorite plants and vegetables.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • That definitely was not on our agenda for some of our night.
    Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Giveaways were definitely a popular draw to the expo as evidenced by the number of full sponsor bags many patrons carried around.
    Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • This premise, bolstered by excellent performances all around, could easily have sustained a totally enjoyable TV show.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Doughty’s rim-around was picked off easily by Lehkonen, who sent the puck from below the goal line to the right point for Devon Toews.
    Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Still, the recovery has not been entirely smooth.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The carrots also add smooth texture and extra flavor to this comfort food favorite.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Raphael could certainly extract feeling from the architecture of a body and the distribution of its weight, but the majority of his faces, even the most artificially expressive ones, are unburdened by anything like a psychology.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • De Zerbi has certainly earned the right to be heard.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • The bias cut drapes smoothly, and the mocha dot print (my favorite option) adds a subtle statement without feeling too loud.
    Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Addressing these early helps prevent avoidable friction and keeps daily life running smoothly.
    Mark Travers, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Several of its designers previously worked on major projects such as Aman Tokyo and The Chedi Andermatt; experience that informs the team’s warm, Asian-leaning minimalism.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Since then, Tanshi has set up a major wildfire monitoring and prevention system that informs locals what days are safe for burning land, which is necessary to clear bush for farming.
    Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The overall aesthetic was slightly ascetic without being spartan—a pale, neutral color palette; simple, modern furniture; a few pieces of abstract art.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
  • This translates to the Gap cardigan sweater and the Levi’s shorts paired with the flats for a simple, slightly elevated look that feels comfortable.
    Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hands-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-down. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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