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Synonyms

two-edged

American  
[too-ejd] / ˈtuˈɛdʒd /

adjective

  1. having two edges, as a sword.

  2. cutting or effective both ways.

two-edged British  

adjective

  1. having two cutting edges

  2. (esp of a remark) having two interpretations, such as she looks nice when she smiles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of two-edged

First recorded in 1520–30

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.

Demonstrating why hyperbole is a two-edged device, a headline in 2018 quipped that fans should get ready to hate sports due to legalized gambling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

"Like everything, tech has a dark side. It is a two-edged sword," says veteran Silicon Valley watcher, Prof Mike Malone.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2024

While the monarchy is a symbol of Britain’s history, that can be a two-edged sword.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2024

For Panashiy, however, electricity can be a two-edged sword.

From Reuters • Oct. 19, 2022

There’s more about these two-edged words in the chapter on plurals, pages 21-24.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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.