back-handed compliment

A form of backhanded compliment — An insult disguised as a compliment; a compliment which can be interpreted as an insult.

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Meanings

nounback-handed compliment (plural back-handed compliments)

plural back-handed compliments

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of backhanded compliment.
Cite this entry
APA

back-handed compliment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back-handed%20compliment

MLA

“back-handed compliment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back-handed%20compliment. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “back-handed compliment,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back-handed%20compliment.

Source: back-handed compliment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.