as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
a quick, offhanded suggestion that was actually much better than any of the prepared proposals
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offhanded
The songs on the last few Bon Iver albums often sound like excerpts from a longer dialogue, at turns offhanded and intense, among collaborators.
—
Mitch Therieau,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
So this little offhanded comment of his changed my life.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
An offhanded comment from Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker at the Sept. 30 council meeting is generating controversy online.
—
Amanda McCoy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Its language, instead, is a chilly French chicness: spiky, refined, offhanded, exuding effortlessness through extraordinary effort.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
Mistress constantly has her wheels turning looking for avenues to rattle the queens, but Nicole does so with a single offhanded comment that cuts to the quick.
—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
During last week's postgame media availability, Jalen Hurts made a seemingly offhanded comment about Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
—
Chantz Martin,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
In a recent interview, the former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made an offhanded comment that connected a few dots for me.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2024
That isn’t to say that Le Gros, a true indie O.G. who seems to get better with age, and McCarthy don’t give equally nuanced turns, or that Donaldson’s deft way of embedding deep, complicated back stories in offhanded conversational details don’t add to the film immensely.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2024
Mitch Therieau,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
So this little offhanded comment of his changed my life.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
An offhanded comment from Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker at the Sept. 30 council meeting is generating controversy online.
—
Amanda McCoy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Its language, instead, is a chilly French chicness: spiky, refined, offhanded, exuding effortlessness through extraordinary effort.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
Mistress constantly has her wheels turning looking for avenues to rattle the queens, but Nicole does so with a single offhanded comment that cuts to the quick.
—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
During last week's postgame media availability, Jalen Hurts made a seemingly offhanded comment about Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
—
Chantz Martin,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
In a recent interview, the former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made an offhanded comment that connected a few dots for me.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2024
That isn’t to say that Le Gros, a true indie O.G. who seems to get better with age, and McCarthy don’t give equally nuanced turns, or that Donaldson’s deft way of embedding deep, complicated back stories in offhanded conversational details don’t add to the film immensely.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
11 Aug. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offhanded
Adjective
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Videos of every speech, impromptu press conference and gaff circulate on social media.
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The impromptu match, published on X June 20, formed part of NASA's push to explain how space relates to soccer.
Adjective
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Across La Guaira, the coastal state hardest-hit by the disaster, and in parts of Caracas, thousands of residents are spending nights outdoors in plazas, parks, sports courts and improvised encampments, sleeping on mattresses, blankets and folding chairs.
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Eventually, the rewrite and actors workshop rehearsal combined — a two-week period in which Jones, McCormick, Wilde, Rogen, Cruz, and Norton acted out, improvised scenes, and, most importantly, talked about characters.
Adjective
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At the same time, Wilde wanted an improvisational rehearsal process in which the actors could discover and breathe life into the characters.
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The wild card is Chicago alto saxophonist Lenard Simpson, a prodigious young player known for his impassioned improvisational flights.
Cite this Entry
“Offhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offhanded. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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