The quality of being backhanded; indirectness, insincerity, or the nature of disguised criticism or insults.
From 'backhanded' + '-ness' (abstract noun suffix), creating a noun describing the quality of being backhanded.
Linguists have noticed that backhandedness varies by culture—some languages and regions embrace direct communication while others consider backhandedness polite social lubricant, making the word's meaning shift depending on where you live.
Nominalized form encoding the same dynamics as backhanded—gendered power structures in qualified praise and indirect communication patterns.
Use 'indirectness' or 'qualified nature' for clarity. Avoids problematic gendered metaphor while maintaining precision.
["indirectness","qualified nature","ambiguity"]
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