Backhanded and Unctuous

Backhanded

Backhanded adjective - Not being or expressing what one appears to be or express.
Usage example: “You throw okay, for a girl” is a bit of a backhanded compliment

Unctuous and backhanded are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Unctuous" instead an adjective "Backhanded".

Nearby Words: backhander, backhand

Unctuous

Unctuous adjective - Not being or expressing what one appears to be or express.
Usage example: an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters

Backhanded and unctuous are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Backhanded" instead an adjective "Unctuous".

Nearby Word: unctuously
Cite this Source
Unctuous and Backhanded. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/backhanded/unctuous
Backhanded & Unctuous. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/backhanded/unctuous>.
Unctuous or Backhanded. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/backhanded/unctuous.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "backhanded" and "unctuous" have occurred on timeline