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

As Cronenworth beat Ashby to first base by a few inches, beating Bauer’s underhanded toss and keeping the inning alive, Tatis alertly scored the tying run. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

The most common theory is that someone, and probably someone rich, seeks to improve their view of the lake in a monstrous and underhanded fashion, leaving both the trees and the town’s beach-goers as collective victims. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

However, the process doesn’t erase the optics, which are as underhanded and greedy as ever. — Tyrone E. Keys Jr, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026

All those underhanded importers also view AI as their own helpful tool. — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 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