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
Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
That offhand remark set everything in motion, from the designs to the dance floor.
—Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 17 Feb. 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
There's been speculation about former Superman actor and The Witcher star Henry Cavill joining season 2, due in part to an offhand comment made by Ansell during a Comic-Con panel.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
That offhand remark set everything in motion, from the designs to the dance floor.
—Kelsey Stewart, Vogue, 17 Feb. 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
-
Some prefer no official invite, instead letting the impromptu feeling of a driveway social speak for itself.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 May 2026
-
And this atmosphere also makes thrilling, impromptu musical moments happen.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
4 May 2026
Adverb
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Charlotte Reiss's kitchen in the heart of Provence is a casually elegant space that would put any home cook at ease.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Bierman captured the moment as Wetjen stood near the green, casually holding a wedge while taking the call — a scene that somehow makes getting drafted to the NFL feel like just another Saturday afternoon.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.—
Pico Iyer,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
Adverb
-
Sometimes, Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock will offhandedly give you career advice.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Nov. 2025
-
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
-
Hendrix first captured the world’s attention in December 2024, when one TikTok clip of her improvisational crowd work skyrocketed to 21 million views.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
-
The band was also known for extended, improvisational live performances that reimagined their songs onstage.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
Adverb
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The constitutional principle behind that decision – that citizenship is a fundamental right which can’t be arbitrarily taken away by whoever happens to be in power – applies equally to how the government handles denaturalization cases today.—
Cassandra Burke Robertson,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These types of homes should not be arbitrarily restricted from the state’s residential areas.—
Eliza Terziev,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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During the pavilion’s preview, a brief but loud protest led by Russian dissident disruptors Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN might have been the most exciting thing to happen at the underwhelming and carelessly presented group show of live performance and video art.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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They were exposed down the left with Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister and Andy Robertson constantly being caught out of position when Liverpool turned the ball over carelessly.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
Adverb
-
Before the Twenty-fifth, Presidents had informally handed over power to the Vice-President during medical issues or temporary absences, but always voluntarily.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Crawling the walls Orson Welles learned to draw from his mother, who informally homeschooled the budding artist during his childhood, which was marked by grave illnesses including malaria and diphtheria.—
Michelle Duncan,
Architectural Digest,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhand. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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