From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdouble-edgedˌdouble-ˈedged adjective 1 → a double-edged sword/weapon2 having two different parts a double-edged attack on global warming3 MEANINa double-edged remark has two possible meanings, one of which is not very nice It sounded like a double-edged comment.4 PMWwith two cutting edges a double-edged knife
Examples from the Corpus
double-edged• Repealers launched a double-edged assault on medics.• Presented with the double-edged challenge Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers failed to manage even a split.• The flattened rectangular section behind the neck contains traces of a large iron blade, possibly a double-edged dagger or short sword.• a double-edged joke• Doubt is a part of this second group of double-edged realities.• The competition rules must be regarded as a double-edged sword by businesses.• Throughout our history, judicial review has been a double-edged sword. 