offhand 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of offhandnext
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

offhand

2 of 2

adverb

as in casually

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Dissimilar 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 offhand
Adjective
She’s only mentioned in an offhand conversation between Lexi and Cassie. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2026 This spring, the singer Zara Larsson, who made an offhand remark in an interview that angered Taylor Swift fans, posted a defense in an Instagram Story that included at least two typos (among them a misspelling of physical as psychical). — Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 21 May 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
  1. impromptu
  2. casually
  3. improvised
  4. offhandedly
  5. improvisational
  6. arbitrarily
  7. carelessly
  8. informally
Adjective
  • That changed after an impromptu date night with her fiancé ended with firefighters administering oxygen, an ambulance ride and the first EpiPen of her life.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
  • On Instagram, Starr later posted a photo of McCartney taken by Morton during the impromptu appearance.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026
Definition of impromptu
Adverb
  • The murder casually committed by that elemental giant Moose Malloy is only an episode to start the story going.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Copy Hathaway’s monochromatic look by pairing them with a matching white top, or wear them casually with a T-shirt and sneakers.
    — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of casually
Adjective
  • Likewise, the respite afforded by the twin hydration breaks has also reduced the need for improvised periods of gentlemanly repose, which in turn has lessened the demand for the chilly spray.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
  • Outside hospitals, temporary shelters and improvised morgues, relatives continue posting photographs and names of missing family members on social media, hoping someone might recognize them or provide information about their fate.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
Definition of improvised
Adverb
  • 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
  • Cardenas announced Apollo 3 in much the same way, offhandedly during our conversation.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of offhandedly
Adjective
  • The group’s final two albums — Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock — helped lay the groundwork for what would later be dubbed post-rock, inspiring generations of artists with their spacious, improvisational approach to composition.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 20 July 2026
  • To survive and scale, cannabis businesses must urgently replace improvisational workarounds with standardized systems and real-time monitoring.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of improvisational
Adverb
  • Critics have argued that it is arbitrarily used to keep embarrassing information from being made public.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Those who wanted to lead consistently underperformed compared to those who were selected arbitrarily.
    — Zulekha Nathoo, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Definition of arbitrarily
Adverb
  • The Dirties includes a scene where Johnson’s out-of-touch high-school character is in blackface, while the Nirvanna web series has bits that carelessly chase juvenile provocation, including stray uses of racial accents and slurs.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 July 2026
  • Flying an unmanned aircraft system carelessly or recklessly, interfering with a first responder operation, is also a misdemeanor under state law and San Diego municipal code.
    — Sydney Brammer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Definition of carelessly
Adverb
  • Huang informally surveyed 76 sellers in his teaching cohort and webinar audience.
    — Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Either way, both projects sit in a similar speed bracket, competing informally for bragging rights before any official body weighs in.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 July 2026
Definition of informally

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Cite this Entry

“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhand. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of offhand for Spanish Speakers

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