1
[ adjective ] with little or no preparation or forethought

Examples

"ad-lib commentst" "an extemporaneous piano recital" "an extemporary lecture" "an extempore skit" "offhand excuses" "trying to sound offhanded" "an off-the-cuff toast" "a few unrehearsed comments"

Related terms

unprepared

2
[ adverb ] in a casually inconsiderate manner

Examples

"replied offhand, his mind a million miles away" "she threw him over offhandedly without even a Dear-John letter"

3
[ adverb ] without previous thought or preparation

Examples

"couldn't give the figures offhand" "we decided offhand to go to Canada" "she had made these remarks offhandedly"

Related terms

ad-lib ad-lib

4
[ adjective ] with little or no preparation or forethought

Examples

"his ad-lib comments showed poor judgment" "an extemporaneous piano recital" "an extemporary lecture" "an extempore skit" "an impromptu speech" "offhand excuses" "trying to sound offhanded and reassurin

Related terms

unprepared

5
[ adjective ] casually thoughtless or inconsiderate

Synonyms

offhanded

Examples

"an offhand manner" "she treated most men with offhand contempt"

Related terms

careless

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