as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
an offhand comment that later caused the politician much embarrassment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in casually
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offhand
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Founders start rewriting decks based on one offhand comment.
—Holden Bruce, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021
Thomas didn’t know offhand but circled back to him with the answer: Six.
—Amie Just | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 25 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for offhand
Adjective
And, playing a detective and his secretary attempting to ascertain the Bride’s whereabouts, Peter Sarsgaard and Penelope Cruz have just the right note of offhand oddness that suggests neither is taking the movie too seriously.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Founders start rewriting decks based on one offhand comment.
—Holden Bruce, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Adverb
The Trolley Problem entails having to make difficult choices, contextually herein in the nature of driving decisions, and is often offhand dismissed by some as a misleading folly in the self-driving realm.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021
Thomas didn’t know offhand but circled back to him with the answer: Six.
—Amie Just | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 25 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for offhand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offhand
Adjective
-
The impromptu display quickly won over viewers online.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
-
That woman may not realize it, but her impromptu photo with Padilla might now be a collector’s item.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
For a day trip, casually head to one of the world’s natural wonders, only 18 miles away, to Yellowstone National Park.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
Perry looked casually cute for her day in the park and wore a white T-shirt with khaki slacks.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Garbage piles now choke nearly every Havana street corner, filling neighborhoods with stench, flies and rats as residents navigate improvised dumps outside homes, hospitals and busy thoroughfares.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
All-Stars will perform an improvised version of the award-winning podcast.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 May 2026
Adverb
-
America is offhandedly disregarding science.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Sometimes, Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock will offhandedly give you career advice.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Director Josh Rowland describes the new improvisational show as set in a place where bounty hunters with empty pockets chase high-stakes outlaws through a gritty solar system trying to make a big score.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
All of those skills are especially important on clay and grass, surfaces where players have to be more creative and improvisational.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
This included the minutes that referees would seemingly arbitrarily add to each half.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Discretion exercised arbitrarily undermines it.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
Adverb
-
Creative opportunities are also heating up, though money and friendship should not be mixed carelessly.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
-
Additionally, boiling water can easily damage surrounding plants and grass if poured carelessly.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
By her side sits her companion, Penelope Jardine, dressed comparatively informally in a loose-fitting shirt, trousers and a pair of scuffed espadrilles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The list of athletes who have a rule named in their honor, however informally, is brief and prestigious.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhand. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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