What does "both-handed" mean?
Skilled or able to use either hand, with unspecified degrees of equalness; ambidextrous.
Both-handed
adj, adv
adj, adv ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Skilled or able to use either hand, with unspecified degrees of equalness; ambidextrous.
- Grammar: both-handed is listed as adj, adv.
- Nearest alternatives: ambidextrous.
- Useful contrasts: monodextrous, unidextrous.
- Usage evidence: “I'm ambidextrous,” she replied. “Both-handed. Dad says it's rare.”
How to use "both-handed"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "both-handed" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "both-handed" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "both-handed" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "both-handed" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "both-handed" is acting as adj, adv in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ambidextrous" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "both-handed", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Skilled or able to use either hand, with unspecified degrees of equalness; ambidextrous. not-comparable
"“I'm ambidextrous,” she replied. “Both-handed. Dad says it's rare.”"
- 2 Denoting either right-handed or left-handed; either-handed. not-comparable
"[Morimori, looking for a pair of scissors in the desk] Shinzuki Morimori Shinzuki: Yes, that is right. This is asymmetric one, so it is both-handed."
- 3 For use with both hands or using both hands. not-comparable
"He stood a bit far of the gloom of the lobby, but short of the dazzle of the stairs, and he clenched his briefcase at his chest in a tense and both-handed, reptilian grip, as if whatever he had in it must be guarded at all costs."
- 4 Involving two sides or approaches not-comparable
"The principle of being “both-handed” or “talk for talk and fight for fight” suggests the necessity to combine soft means with tough ones and to struggle while seeking cooperation."
Adverb
- 1 With both hands not-comparable
"Then the brown-haired detective charged around the corner firing both-handed, skimming two off Stephen's vest, while Stephen himself danced one round off the detective's and they fell backward simultaneously."
- 2 Involving two sides or approaches not-comparable
"Our second front will, in fact, comprise both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe, and we can push either right-handed, left-handed, or both-handed as our resources and circumstances permit."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"“I'm ambidextrous,” she replied. “Both-handed. Dad says it's rare.”"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "both-handed"?
Common synonyms include: ambidextrous.
How do you use "both-handed" in a sentence?
“I'm ambidextrous,” she replied. “Both-handed. Dad says it's rare.”
Etymology
From both + handed.