HANDS-ON Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

hands-on 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of hands-on

as in direct

actively and personally involved in something Supervisors at the company are expected to take a hands-on role in the projects of their subordinates.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

hands on

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of hand on

as in passes (down)

Related Words

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-on

Adjective

Ricchio builds a plan around what families need, including hands-on instruction in caregiving basics. — Raginee Sudhir Chaurey, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026 The Verge got a hands-on look at the touchscreen MacBook Pro following the event. — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2026 Over 200 years of hands-on science Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is the country’s oldest natural science museum. — Lili Mei Granda Argianas, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026 Through hands-on learning, mentorship and rigorous coursework, Hahn said, students should be prepared not only for successful careers, but also to become engaged citizens who serve their communities. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hands-on

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hands-on

Adjective

In her remarks, Wintour made the evening’s only direct reference to the midterms, reminiscing about attending a fundraising event for James Talarico, who successfully flipped Texas in the race for the Senate last night, alongside Burch.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
In 1994, Defense Secretary Les Aspin rescinded the risk rule policy but kept in place the exclusion that barred women from serving in direct ground combat units below the brigade level.

— James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of direct

Adjective

The statement was active for Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Northern Monterey Bay and Big Sur.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Instead of the long-standing practice of relaying reports from states, the CDC now relies on federal death records, which can take weeks to come through and are not designed to capture the real-time data needed to respond to an active outbreak.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of active

Adjective

Party organizations were strong, our legislative allies were aligned, and labor held significant influence within the primary process.

— Denis Hughes, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Much of his campaign was run against the Democratic establishment, with his primary opponent backed by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

— Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of primary

Browse Nearby Words

handsomeness

hands-on

hands on

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hands-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hands-on. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hands-on

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cockamamie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes