Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for backhanded

backhanded

[ bak-han-did ]

adjective

  1. performed with the hand turned backward, crosswise, or in any oblique direction so that the palm of the hand faces in the direction of the body and the back of the hand faces in the direction of forward movement.
  2. sloping in a downward direction from left to right:

    backhanded writing.

  3. oblique or ambiguous in meaning; indirect; insincere or malicious; wry:

    backhanded methods; a backhanded compliment.

  4. Ropemaking. noting a rope in which the yarns and the strands are laid in the same direction, the rope itself being laid in the opposite direction.


adverb

  1. with the hand across the body; backhand:

    He caught the ball backhanded.

backhanded

/ ˌbækˈhændɪd /

adjective

  1. (of a blow, shot, stroke, etc) performed with the arm moving across the body
  2. double-edged; equivocal

    a backhanded compliment

  3. (of handwriting) slanting to the left
  4. (of a rope) twisted in the opposite way to the normal right-handed direction


adverb

  1. in a backhanded manner

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˌbackˈhandedly, adverb
  • ˌbackˈhandedness, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • backhanded·ly adverb
  • backhanded·ness noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of backhanded1

First recorded in 1790–1800; back 2 + handed

Discover More

Example Sentences

Completing the motion, Howe pulled the puck back to his own left and backhanded it hard into the open side of the net.

Shawn sat up to say something, and he hauled off and backhanded her across the face.

I realized that the very narrowness of my complaints was backhanded evidence of the enormous amount that the film gets right.

In his heyday, Richards had an eerily clinical and meticulous approach to drug use, a backhanded compliment to be sure.

For these women, “crazy” is a backhanded compliment, a path on the road to fame.

For myself, though I received only a backhanded blow on the chest, I staggered as if I had been struck with a sledgehammer.

Korman backhanded him across the throat without looking around, with such force that Gibson staggered back and fell.

Simms threw the brim of his soft hat up with a backhanded stroke and shook his head.

The writing was what is known as "backhanded," in strokes which appeared at first sight to be of a uniform lightness.

Mikah asked, and one of the guards backhanded him to the ground.

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


backhandbackhander