offhanded
offhanded Lexical Profile
offhanded Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Ungraciously or offensively casual, cool, or brusque in manner, showing a lack of due consideration or respect for others.
"His offhanded dismissal of her carefully researched proposal left the entire committee feeling uncomfortable."
Done, made, or stated without previous thought, preparation, or deliberation.
"What began as an offhanded remark during a morning meeting eventually inspired the company's most successful campaign."
Word Nuance & Usage
While "offhanded" and "offhand" are largely interchangeable as adjectives, "offhanded" is strictly used as an adjective (with "offhandedly" as its adverb), whereas "offhand" commonly functions as both an adjective and an adverb.
• Rhymes for offhanded
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 17th century from the earlier phrase "off hand", originally a shooting term referring to firing a rifle without a support or rest, which later evolved to mean acting immediately without preparation.