variants
or skullduggery
as in deception
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
the company's apparently healthy bottom line was merely an illusion, the result of years of accounting skulduggery
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skulduggery
Soprano Nicole Car’s initially elegant Elizabeth accumulates both physical and vocal intensity as the opera exposes more and more skulduggery around her.
—
Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
But this week social media posts began to surface alleging the firm was engaged in skullduggery.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The outcome of the family’s skulduggery, revealed over the end credits, should be a lip-smacking wicked delight.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
There was much more to it than that, including some skullduggery along the way.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skulduggery
Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
But this week social media posts began to surface alleging the firm was engaged in skullduggery.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
The outcome of the family’s skulduggery, revealed over the end credits, should be a lip-smacking wicked delight.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
There was much more to it than that, including some skullduggery along the way.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for skulduggery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skulduggery
Noun
-
But the dramatic vision-boosting reputation carrots have carried for decades traces back to a wartime deception, not science.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2026
-
People desperately need reassurances that elections are decided honestly, without tricks or deception to favor a candidate or a party.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Peacock’s adventures in treachery The Traitors was the top dog, scoring five prizes including Best Competition Series and Best Host for Alan Cumming.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
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Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Now greater accountability around no true bills might help dissuade further chicanery by prosecutors.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
-
There’s a tremendous amount of financial chicanery that goes on in 2026.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Jakirovic was speaking before the EFL’s independent commission came down heavy on Southampton’s subterfuge.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
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Skip the subterfuge as the sun and Mercury harmonize.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The stunt aims to confirm the robot’s physical capabilities and counter claims of digital trickery, marking an unusual strategy in a sector where technical specifications typically serve as proof.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Dec. 2025
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Paired with the visual trickery of the hallucinations, the horrors of Sleep Awake often resemble sleep paralysis.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
3 Dec. 2025
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.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Gerry was not alone among the Founders in opposing such political gamesmanship.—
Frederic J. Fransen,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
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There was also gamesmanship by several teams, using one driver to slow down the pack to help their other driver gain positions.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
The West-Batula news fractured the cast due to secrecy and betrayals, and the fallout from the off-camera events has played out over an explosive three-part reunion that concluded last week.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
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Her Taurus moon also occupies her 12th house, an area of the birth chart associated with spirituality, secrecy and subconscious realms.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skulduggery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skulduggery. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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