Janus-faced (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Having two faces--one looking to the future and one to the past; "Janus the two-faced god".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The city's historic district is a janus-faced place, where modern boutiques and restaurants sit alongside ancient buildings and monuments.
- As a politician, she has been accused of being janus-faced, making promises to progressive voters while also courting conservative donors.
- The artist's latest sculpture is a janus-faced masterpiece, with one side depicting a futuristic cityscape and the other a nostalgic portrait of a bygone era.
- The company's marketing strategy is janus-faced, promoting its innovative new products while also touting its decades-long tradition of quality and reliability.
- The academic's research on historical preservation is janus-faced, examining both the benefits of modernizing old buildings and the importance of preserving their original character.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Having or concerned with polarities or contrasts; "a Janus-faced view of history"; "a Janus-faced policy".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The new tax law presented a janus-faced reality, simultaneously boosting economic growth and exacerbating income inequality.
- The city's architecture reflected its janus-faced personality, blending sleek skyscrapers with quaint historic neighborhoods.
- Her poetry collection explored the janus-faced nature of love, examining both its beauty and its darkness.
- The government's approach to foreign policy has been janus-faced, often seeming to advocate both for international cooperation and aggressive military intervention.
- His film offered a janus-faced portrayal of technological progress, showcasing its life-saving benefits while also warning of its addictive and destructive potential.
Meaning 3
Marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another; "she was a deceitful scheming little thing"- Israel Zangwill; "a double-dealing double agent"; "a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer"- W.M.Thackeray.
Classification
All adjective clusters.