double-edged
Americanadjective
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having two cutting edges, as a razor blade.
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capable of acting two ways or having opposite effects.
a double-edged argument.
adjective
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acting in two ways; having a dual effect
a double-edged law
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(of a remark, argument, etc) having two possible interpretations, esp applicable both for and against or being really malicious though apparently innocuous
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(of a sword, knife, etc) having a cutting edge on either side of the blade
Etymology
Origin of double-edged
First recorded in 1545–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"In California, atmospheric rivers are a double-edged sword," Mimi said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
“For the Fed, this becomes a double-edged sword,” said Priscilla Thiagamoorthy, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
The highly diversified business model of Google also acts as a double-edged sword for ad growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
A significant chunk of recent growth has been driven by healthcare spending from an aging population, a trend he described as a double-edged sword.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
He drew his sword and showed it to her; a longsword adroitly shrunken to suit a boy of twelve, gleaming blue steel, castle-forged and double-edged, with a leather grip and a lion's-head pommel in gold.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
