Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court.
Source: wiktionary
Open-handed
Synonyms for "open-handed" (15 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (3)
Strong matches (5)
Related words (7)
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(1 words)
sharing culture
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: altruistic, benevolent, charitable, free, generous.
- Sentence evidence is available for open-handed, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "open-handed".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "open-handed"
Keep "open-handed" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "open-handed" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "open-handed", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "open-handed" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
Visual gaze toward the mother was present with the children's earliest gestures, but only in those cases where the gesture was itself directed toward the mother, such as extending objects toward the mother or open-handed reaching or pointing toward objects held by the mother.
Source: wiktionary
And there were other words that stung his ears like hail: 'Slut! Bitch! Whore!' each accompanied by a noise: the open-handed slap that sounded like the tearing ofcalico, the dull thud followed by a gasp as a bunched fist slammed into yielding flesh, the reedy shriek and the gurgling sob -- and eventually the whistling breaths as Jessie climbed the stairs and shouted until she made herself heard that if they didn't stop their racket right this minute then she'd be calling the bobbies.
Source: wiktionary
'No, no,' said the undertaker; 'not an open-handed gentleman in general, by any means. There you mistake him; but an afflicted gentleman, an affectionate gentleman, who knows what it is in the power of money to do, in giving him relief, and in testifying his love and veneration for the departed.'
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "open-handed"?
Closest matches include altruistic, benevolent, charitable, free, generous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "open-handed"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.