underhanded

1 of 2

adverb

un·​der·​hand·​ed ˌən-dər-ˈhan-dəd 

: underhand

… flipped the ball to him underhanded.

—W. P. Kinsella

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

Synonyms of underhanded

Adjective

• deceptive
• fraudulent
• shady
• crooked
• dishonest

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

The Celtics weren’t able to create any distance from their pesky hosts until Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the half — one off a nifty underhanded pass from Neemias Queta, the other set up by a Scheierman offensive rebound. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026

In California, the law prevents incumbents from pulling off the kind of underhanded stunt that Garcia and Daines managed. —Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

The underhanded plan The way this plan was launched speaks volumes. —Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026

Instead of helping the contestant, the complaint alleges that show producers convinced the couple not to quit the show and assured them there was nothing underhanded occurring with their depiction. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1823, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1782, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for underhanded

• countermanded
• evenhanded
• reprimanded
• backhanded
• commanded
• demanded
• disbanded
• expanded
• misbranded
• remanded
• unbranded
• banded

Kids Definition

underhanded

adjective or adverb

un·​der·​hand·​ed

ˌən-dər-ˈhan-dəd

: underhand entry 1, underhand entry 2 sense 1

underhandedly adverb

underhandedness noun