backhanded compliment
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His positional awareness has also earned praise although his work-rate and desire to cover as much ground as possible mean he often tires himself out - a potential backhanded compliment.
From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026
In past seasons, that description might have landed as a backhanded compliment — a “nice try” in the wake of some form-breaking comedy’s ascension as a critical darling.
From Salon ● Feb. 6, 2025
We all know what their backhanded compliment is coded to mean!
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 9, 2023
This might be interpreted as a backhanded compliment since reinvention tends to be praised in artistic circles, but it is not.
From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2022
This is what one calls a backhanded compliment.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
