Meaning of "backhandedness" in English

Backhandedness refers to the quality of being insincere or ambiguous, often presenting something positive in a manner that subtly undermines or criticizes. It is commonly associated with compliments or remarks that, on the surface, seem flattering but actually contain an underlying insult or negative implication. This linguistic strategy can be used intentionally to disguise true intentions or emotions, making it a popular tool in sarcastic or passive-aggressive communication. In essence, backhandedness involves a deceptive or duplicitous manner of expression.

Meaning of "backhandedness" in French

In French, "backhandedness" carries a similar meaning. It represents the characteristic of expressing a compliment or statement that outwardly appears positive but holds an underlying negative or critical connotation. This form of communication, which can be seen as insincere or misleading, often serves to deliver a subtle insult or convey a hidden message. Backhandedness can be employed as a rhetorical device to mask genuine sentiments, making it a nuanced and complex form of expression.

Pronunciation of "backhandedness" in English

Phonetic Transcription: /ˈbækˌhændɪdnəs/

Pronunciation Variations: The pronunciation of "backhandedness" is consistent across most English-speaking regions. However, slight variations might occur in accent or intonation, particularly between American and British English, but these do not significantly alter the pronunciation.

Pronunciation of "backhandedness" in French

Phonetic Transcription: /bɑːkˈhændɪdnəs/

Pronunciation Variations: In French, "backhandedness" is typically pronounced with a French accent, maintaining the English sound structure. Differences might arise based on regional accents within France or other French-speaking territories, but these are minimal.

Sentence examples in English and translation to French

  1. Her compliment was full of backhandedness. (Son compliment était plein de sous-entendus.)
  2. He delivered his praise with a hint of backhandedness. (Il a fait son éloge avec une pointe de fausse sincérité.)
  3. The backhandedness in his remarks was obvious to everyone. (La fausse sincérité dans ses remarques était évidente pour tout le monde.)
  4. She couldn't help but notice the backhandedness in his tone. (Elle ne pouvait s'empêcher de remarquer la fausse sincérité dans son ton.)
  5. The compliment was layered with backhandedness. (Le compliment était teinté de sarcasme.)
  6. His backhandedness always left her wondering what he really meant. (Sa fausse sincérité la laissait toujours se demander ce qu’il voulait vraiment dire.)
  7. The backhandedness was subtle but clear. (La fausse sincérité était subtile mais évidente.)
  8. She was taken aback by the backhandedness of the comment. (Elle a été surprise par la fausse sincérité du commentaire.)
  9. The conversation was filled with a strange backhandedness. (La conversation était remplie d'une étrange fausse sincérité.)
  10. They exchanged pleasantries laced with backhandedness. (Ils ont échangé des politesses pleines de sarcasme.)

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "backhandedness" in English

Synonyms: insincerity, sarcasm, duplicity, irony, double-dealing, subtlety, slyness, cunning, deception, artifice.

Antonyms: sincerity, straightforwardness, honesty, candor, openness.

Similar Words: irony, sarcasm, subtlety, ambiguity, indirectness.

Synonyms, antonyms, and similar words for "backhandedness" in French

Synonyms: insincérité, duplicité, ironie, ambiguïté, subtilité, tromperie, ruse.

Antonyms: sincérité, franchise, honnêteté, ouverture.

Similar Words: ironie, sarcasme, ambiguïté, subtilité, indirect.

Disclaimer: These examples may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Translate.com, or its company Translate LLC. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to our team.

Get document translations that have been custom-crafted to fit the needs of your unique industry and culture - in over 110 language pairs!
Order document translation

Translate backhandedness into other languages