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Offhand vs Cursory - What's the difference?

offhand | cursory | Related terms |

Offhand is a related term of cursory.


As adjectives the difference between offhand and cursory

is that offhand is without planning or thinking ahead while cursory is hasty; superficial; careless.

As an adverb offhand

is right away, immediately, without thinking about it.

offhand

English

Alternative forms

* off-hand

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • without planning or thinking ahead
    • She gave an offhand speech.
  • careless; without sufficient thought or consideration
    • He doesn't realise how hurtful his offhand remarks can be.
  • curt, abrupt, unfriendly
    • She was quite offhand with me yesterday.

    Synonyms

    * (without planning) impromptu, extemporaneous, off-the-cuff; see also

    See also

    * off the top of one's head

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • right away, immediately, without thinking about it
  • * Offhand , I'd guess that that's a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
  • * 1854:' William Makepeace Thackeray, ''The Rose and the Ring'' - We will have no more of this shilly-shallying! Call the Archbishop, and let the Prince and Princess be married ' offhand !
  • in an offhand manner

    • Anagrams

    *

    cursory

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • hasty; superficial; careless
    • Most junk mail requires only a cursory glance.
  • (obsolete) Running about; not stationary.

    • Derived terms

    * cursorily * cursoriness

    See also

    * cursor