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
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
There are plenty of destinations worth considering along the country’s Caribbean shores, but the Bocas del Toro archipelago is hands-down the most popular choice.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 29 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
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
Adjective
But Ramis' best output is hands-down Groundhog Day (1993).
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
There are plenty of destinations worth considering along the country’s Caribbean shores, but the Bocas del Toro archipelago is hands-down the most popular choice.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 29 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-down
Adjective
-
Just a few blocks from the hotel, Broughton Street is an easy wander for browsing boutiques like the Posh Loft and Paris Market, followed by a coffee at the Coffee Fox.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
Mammals are weirdly easy to get right.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Adverb
-
Celebrities dress to impress at Cannes, and Dern’s outfit at this year’s film festival definitely hit the mark.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
In between those two events, this rising pop star from New Zealand — boasting a sound that would definitely appeal to fans of Lorde — sat down with me for interview in the media room at BottleRock.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Adverb
-
Insider tip Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast is easily accessible via Sansa Airlines, Costa Rica's domestic carrier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
Marlowe is not easily replaceable, especially if the Nuggets follow the trend of going younger and less experienced.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
That tension partly informs the work Imah is doing now through SPREEAI, a company focused on virtual try-on systems, fit intelligence and personalized shopping experiences.—
Partner Content,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
Each facet informs the other, and no one believes and embodies that more than my mother, Livia.—
Lucia Aronica,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Her voice startled me, both rough and smooth—like a bottle of whiskey set in front of a princess.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
But when a driver removes their foot from the Air’s accelerator, speed reduction is smooth.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Adverb
-
The price tag is certainly higher than most sandals on this list, but the handmade construction and all-day comfort help justify the investment.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
-
That’s certainly true, in the sense that entanglements among ancient, telepathic beings play out on a time scale us humans struggle to comprehend.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
Adverb
-
During the 2024 election, officials received a record number of bomb threats, though Barton said elections went very smoothly, mostly because officials were prepared.—
Ashley Lopez,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
That said, everyone could benefit from completing a few simple household maintenance tasks on the weekend in order to ensure things flow more smoothly over the course of the busy work week ahead.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Cindy Kobold, an Arizona Public Service meteorologist, said the technology notifies them about 45 minutes faster on average than the first 911 call.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Meta already notifies parents when their teens discuss self-harm or suicide on Instagram.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hands-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-down. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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