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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offhand
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
That means an offhand remark could live far longer than the meeting itself.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Kimmel had suggested during a seemingly offhand comment in Monday’s monologue that suspected Kirk shooter Tyler Robinson was a MAGA member.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
That means an offhand remark could live far longer than the meeting itself.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2025
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
-
Organized by a slew of leading Japanese menswear companies, the event — now in its seventh iteration — is a city stroll-cum-impromptu-runway show of men decked out in full sartorial looks that has already taken place in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul, among other cities.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Dreyer learned of the award on Friday, when SDFC’s players and staff surprised him with the trophy in an impromptu ceremony.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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Meyers also casually chatted up Jags coach Liam Coen at game’s end.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
They can easily be worn both casually with a sweater set or dressed up with a nice fall dress.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Provide your input and be part of creating improvised scenes, games and musicals that come with tons of fun and laughter!—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Deep shots, screens, improvised plays, even a flea-flicker touchdown to Luther Burden III.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The tragedy side of things is addressed rather offhandedly — occasionally the movie will remember the boggling grief and betrayal at its center, only to shrug it off again just as quickly.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps those types of fluid, improvisational melodies could only be born from literally not being strapped in.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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The band’s concerts have become a hallmark of improvisational energy that has attracted a devoted and eclectic fanbase.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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These puzzles, like the horizon problem, the flatness problem, and the monopole problem, strongly suggested that the hot, dense, early state couldn’t be extrapolated to arbitrarily high temperatures and energies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Oct. 2025
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Iran has accused France of arbitrarily detaining Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon, who was arrested this year over anti-Israel social media posts.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Wallets, coins, and rings are carelessly passed around this little society, and messages are corrupted—from Orsino’s wooing of Olivia, which is accidentally undone by his own go-between, Viola, to the letters that deceive Malvolio.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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But also just a touch ironic — like a man handing out fire safety pamphlets while carelessly flipping burgers over a bonfire on his porch.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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So, is the idea to replicate the British pub experience of people discussing hot topics informally?—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Oct. 2025
-
It can be learned formally or informally, and often includes bright colors and abstract, whimsical designs.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhand. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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