double-edged

adjective

Of a blade, such as a sword or knife, sharp on both edges.

“Slander is a double-edged weapon: you can hurt the reputation of another but it diminishes your own reputation that you debase yourself so much.”

Similar
ambiguous
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Meanings

adjectivedouble-edged (comparative more double-edged, superlative most double-edged)

comparative more double-edged · superlative most double-edged

  1. not comparableOf a blade, such as a sword or knife, sharp on both edges.
  2. comparablefigurativelyBeneficial and harmful at the same time; assisting or contributing in one manner while also creating risk or negative consequences.

    Slander is a double-edged weapon: you can hurt the reputation of another but it diminishes your own reputation that you debase yourself so much.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivecapable of being interpreted in two usually contradictory ways

Similar
ambiguous
Also see
ambiguous

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Ancient Greek ἀμφήκης
  • ἀμφήκης (amphḗkēs)a blade that is sharp on both edges
Bulgarian двуостър, с две остриета
  • двуостър (dvuostăr)a blade that is sharp on both edges
  • с две остриета (s dve ostrieta)a blade that is sharp on both edges
Danish tveægget
  • tveæggeta blade that is sharp on both edges
Finnish kaksiteräinen, kaksipiippuinen
  • kaksiteräinena blade that is sharp on both edges
  • kaksipiippuinenfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
French à double tranchant
  • à double tranchanta blade that is sharp on both edges
German zweischneidig, zweischneidig
  • zweischneidiga blade that is sharp on both edges
  • zweischneidigfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Greek αμφίστομος, δίκοπος
  • αμφίστομος (amfístomos)a blade that is sharp on both edges
  • δίκοπος (díkopos)a blade that is sharp on both edges
  • αμφίστομος (amfístomos)figuratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Hebrew חֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת
  • חֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת (ẖérev pifiyót)a blade that is sharp on both edges
Italian a doppio taglio, a doppio taglio
  • a doppio taglioa blade that is sharp on both edges
  • a doppio tagliofiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Latin anceps
  • ancepsfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Māori huarua
  • huaruaa blade that is sharp on both edges
Norwegian Bokmål tveegget, tveegga
  • tveeggeta blade that is sharp on both edges
  • tveeggaa blade that is sharp on both edges
  • toeggeta blade that is sharp on both edges
  • toeggaa blade that is sharp on both edges
  • tveeggetfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
  • tveeggafiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
  • toeggetfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
  • toeggafiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Polish obosieczny, dwusieczny
  • obosiecznya blade that is sharp on both edges
  • dwusiecznya blade that is sharp on both edges
  • obosiecznyfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
  • dwusiecznyfiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Portuguese de dois gumes
  • de dois gumesa blade that is sharp on both edges
Romanian cu două tăișuri, cu două tăișuri
  • cu două tăișuria blade that is sharp on both edges
  • cu două tăișurifiguratively: possibly dangerous, ambiguous
Russian обоюдоо́стрый
  • обоюдоо́стрый (obojudoóstryj)a blade that is sharp on both edges
Spanish de doble filo
  • de doble filoa blade that is sharp on both edges
Swedish tveeggad
  • tveeggada blade that is sharp on both edges
Cite this entry
APA

double-edged. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double-edged

MLA

“double-edged.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double-edged. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “double-edged,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/double-edged.

Source: double-edged on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.