double-edged
Americanadjective
-
having two cutting edges, as a razor blade.
-
capable of acting two ways or having opposite effects.
a double-edged argument.
adjective
-
acting in two ways; having a dual effect
a double-edged law
-
(of a remark, argument, etc) having two possible interpretations, esp applicable both for and against or being really malicious though apparently innocuous
-
(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.
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
Gellar wields a double-edged sword: “Buffy” helped shape the landscape of modern TV, but it’s because the show was and is so popular that the role sticks to her no matter where she goes.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
AI enters a culture already sliced and diced by the double-edged sword of digital technology.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
“Dating the boss is a double-edged sword,” she says.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026
Oddly, it resembled a sort of biological insurance, but double-edged.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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.
