as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
had to resort to a certain amount of hanky-panky to sneak away from the house without his dog seeing him
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Recent Examples of hanky-panky
The screening usually focusses on clandestine hanky-panky, but this season the girls’ irreverence was so abundant that the producers treated them to an unprecedented second viewing night.
—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
So just to be critical or even open to suspicion of hanky-panky or shenanigans around vaccination is immediately shut down by The New York Times or anybody.
—
David Zane Mairowitz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Dec. 2025
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
27 June 2026
So just to be critical or even open to suspicion of hanky-panky or shenanigans around vaccination is immediately shut down by The New York Times or anybody.
—
David Zane Mairowitz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanky-panky
Noun
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Guo was convicted of nine of 12 criminal charges during a seven-week trial that prosecutors said showcased his deception of thousands of investors in bogus deals that enabled Guo’s lavish lifestyle.
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By the time the deception was uncovered, the employee had authorized $25 million in transfers.
Noun
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The majority sees this as subterfuge.
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The Blacks’ defeat would be certain if not for dragons and subterfuge.
Noun
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Once there, a combination of Messi’s genius, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s larger-than-life performances, a well-balanced team, and — it must be said — some unsavoury moments of skullduggery by several players, helped Argentina battle their way to the final against defending champions France.
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For this skullduggery-stopping potential, the city paid $67,548, which is in the rough ballpark as what your average cop probably makes annually.
Noun
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There’s a tremendous amount of financial chicanery that goes on in 2026.
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Not many people, however, concluded that financial chicanery at executive level should be used as a stick with which to beat the players and coaches who had won those trophies over the years in question.
Noun
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West said Eisner was particularly delighted with the stage trickery that allowed a child actor to be seen as Chip, a teacup.
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The absolute key to France’s attack is the telepathic understanding brewing between Mbappé and Olise, whose combined trickery and close control are in perfect harmony.
Noun
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Guides spoke of the monthlong siege that ended only because of the treachery of a local noble who turned on the sultan and allowed British troops to scale the walls.
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This is not treachery but the truest and noblest affection.
Noun
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This includes less dangerous fouls and gamesmanship such as time-wasting and diving.
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Gerry was not alone among the Founders in opposing such political gamesmanship.
Noun
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Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.
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Beyond the deceptiveness of the narrow material view, spiritual light and hope are always present to be found and felt.
Cite this Entry
“Hanky-panky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanky-panky. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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