backhanded

adjective

1. (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke

Similar word(s): backhand

2. roundabout or ambiguous

- attacks from that source amounted to a backhanded compliment to his integrity

- a backhanded and dishonest way of reaching his goal

Similar word(s): indirect

adverb

1. In a backhanded manner.

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of backhand