underhanded

1 of 2

adverb

un·​der·​hand·​ed ˌən-dər-ˈhan-dəd How to pronounce underhanded (audio)

underhanded

2 of 2

adjective

: marked by secrecy, chicanery, and deception : not honest and aboveboard : sly
an underhanded attempt to gain power
underhandedly adverb
underhandedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for underhanded

secret, covert, stealthy, furtive, clandestine, surreptitious, underhanded mean done without attracting observation.

secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Examples of underhanded in a Sentence

Adjective the commercial is a part of an underhanded PR campaign to whitewash the company's environmental record an underhanded attempt at infiltrating the other party's headquarters
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This is an underhanded attempt to withhold aid, without facing accountability. Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 7 May 2024 But the company has pushed into unfair territory and used underhanded tactics that give its own devices (like the Apple Watch) and services (Apple Pay) a distinct advantage over those of the competition, which cannot offer the same experience. Chris Welch, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for underhanded 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underhanded.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1822, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of underhanded was circa 1822

Dictionary Entries Near underhanded

Cite this Entry

“Underhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underhanded. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

underhanded

adjective or adverb
un·​der·​hand·​ed
ˌən-dər-ˈhan-dəd
underhandedly adverb
underhandedness noun

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