OFFHAND Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

offhand 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of offhand

as in impromptu

made or done without previous thought or preparation an offhand comment that later caused the politician much embarrassment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

offhand

2 of 2

adverb

as in casually

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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 offhand

Adjective

Others begin with something much smaller—an offhand comment during a busy lunch rush at the original location in Sikeston, Missouri. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 30 June 2026 Vocals have an offhand nonchalance instead of hogging the spotlight, melodies sneak up on you rather than announce themselves, and the guitars avoid crunchy riffs and overdriven twang in favor of tart rambling and clean supporting chords. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 June 2026

Adverb

Mara, Lisa and Astrid say bizarre and unsettling things, their cruelty and spite sometimes offhand, sometimes calculated. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022 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 See All Example Sentences for offhand

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offhand

Adjective

Plus spending two to three hours running — plus recovery time — on Saturdays and Sundays likely saved me from at least a few impromptu shopping trips.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026
Paquette was in a ska/punk band in his youth, then began setting up impromptu music shows in rehearsal studios and other places.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of impromptu

Adverb

According to Jewish tradition, worn out sacred texts can’t be casually discarded; instead, they are stored in a geniza, a repository usually located within a synagogue or buried at a Jewish cemetery.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Aryna Sabalenka casually displayed her massive engagement ring in a new Instagram carousel.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of casually

Adjective

Carlos Montenegro California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Prison officials did not provided details on the circumstances of the attack but said two improvised weapons were found at the scene.

— Senior Editor, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Prison staff discovered two improvised weapons at the scene, according to CDCR.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of improvised

Adverb

To minimize conflict concerns, Mare offhandedly volunteers to temporarily work at the Cincinnati Chronicle, the Teller’s sister paper, while some of its staff members are on maternity leave.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
With the wedding just a few weeks away, Gail offhandedly introduces Tom to the concept of the celebrity pass, in which each person in a committed partnership is allowed to have sex with one famous person of his or her choice, identified in advance.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026

Definition of offhandedly

Adjective

The New Stanford Prison Experiment, Netflix’s take on a project that was always more convincing as improvisational theater than as scientific research, isn’t even television’s first crack at Zimbardo’s study.

— Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
These findings suggest that the audience for conversations about the soul is not shrinking, but shifting away from organized religion and toward more personal, improvisational forms of seeking.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of improvisational

Adverb

Place names that are changed arbitrarily and without due process should not be recognized by the international community.

— Reuben Rose-Redwood, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
The judge said the school board inserted its own opinions into the decision, and thus acted arbitrarily and illegally.

— Tara Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of arbitrarily

Adverb

An outright ban on the use of the technology would remove a valuable tool only because some departments have used it carelessly.

— Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026
But don’t think Obama choose that reference carelessly, or just for humor.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of carelessly

Adverb

Klosterman was hired to replace Sean Wesley and informally kept counsel with him.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
The main room there is articulated around a sculptural, 20-foot curved wooden display unit, informally dubbed the Library, which for the opening displayed ready-to-wear on one side, and the recently launched Horsebit Duomo bag on the other.

— Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of informally

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“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhand. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of offhand

adjective

adverb

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