0 Something that is double-edged acts in two ways, often with one negative and one positive effect:
1 having two possible and different meanings or effects:
Climate changes are potentially double-edged in their consequences.
Wealth and fame can be a double-edged sword (= a situation with both positive and negative effects).
Indeed, it seems that there is double-edged risk of trivialization.
But these portrayals were also double-edged in that they contributed to the passive and powerless image of women.
The influence attained by folk healers was double-edged.
On a more general level, this book can be read as a thoughtful and thought-provoking examination of the double-edged effects of globalisation.
Thus, a double-edged process of change is underway.
Several other issues raised in the strategy paper have similar double-edged implications for older people's health care.
But that such 'protection' was a fragile refuge and that honour like many other instruments was double-edged were proved repeatedly.
Like other aspects of women's involvement in political life, their participation in highly politicized social events elicited a double-edged response.