under-the-table

adjective

Definition of under-the-tablenext
as in under-the-counter

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of under-the-table Zumba allegedly asked whether the spouse would be willing to issue real, but unauthorized, ID cards for an under-the-table payment. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026 But while that under-the-table approach by Israel towards Hamas came crashing down with the October 7, 2023 attacks, concern still lingers in Ramallah, the headquarters of the PA , that the new technocratic committee could be another way to divide Palestinians by creating rival centers of power. — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026 In the meantime, many engage in under-the-table, unreliable work. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2025 The truth is, under the old system, plenty of elite players were there only for the under-the-table cash. — Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for under-the-table
Recent Examples of Synonyms for under-the-table
  1. under-the-counter
  2. unauthorized
  3. unsanctioned
  4. illicit
  5. unlicensed
  6. unapproved
  7. criminal
  8. contraband
Adjective
  • Behind the bar, crammed into a small station barely wide enough for one person, were two rice cookers, a combination oven, an induction burner and an under-the-counter fridge.
    — Priya Krishna, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • By night, his father would lend him his binoculars to spy on women through their windows, filling in any gaps in his anatomical understanding with whatever under-the-counter girly magazines had managed to wiggle through Italy’s draconian censorship.
    — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2024
Definition of under-the-counter
Adjective
  • AssuranceAmerica determined that an unauthorized third party had gained access to a portion of its IT systems and copied some important files.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 10 July 2026
  • Officials have described him as an unauthorized immigrant but did not answer specific questions about his status.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of unauthorized
Adjective
  • The real ask is usually governance to make the unsanctioned workflow safe, audited and scalable.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Last week, Whitney Museum displays that advertised the current Whitney Biennial briefly bore unsanctioned messages in support of Palestine, courtesy the artist Jonathan Allen.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of unsanctioned
Adjective
  • An ‘illicit relationship’ John Cotham met Yaffe at Gold’s Gym in 2008, according to Yaffe’s counterclaim.
    — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • The state does offer two black plates, but a third, illicit version has been spotted on the roads.
    — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
Definition of illicit
Adjective
  • Recently, there was a news story about an unlicensed childcare program in Goshen, Indiana found to be illegally operating with over 85 children and only three adults.
    — Kristin Stauss, Washington Post, 10 July 2026
  • The same report alleged that welders were unlicensed and gas machines were used without proper ventilation.
    — Chris Quintana, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of unlicensed
Adjective
  • There’s little high-quality evidence that most unapproved peptide stacks work as advertised.
    — Jenna Anderson, Health, 13 July 2026
  • In reality, the number of unapproved tools being used is 200 to 300.
    — Scott Francis, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of unapproved
Adjective
  • As part of her release conditions, she has been ordered to stay away from her 13-year-old daughter while the criminal case proceeds.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • In some regions, a single medical examiner may oversee hundreds of deaths each year, leading to bottlenecks that can slow criminal cases, complicate insurance claims, and leave families waiting months and sometimes years for answers.
    — Gregory McDonald, STAT, 13 July 2026
Definition of criminal
Adjective
  • Bhagwanpuria allegedly oversaw and directed the global activities of the group from a jail cell in India, using contraband cellphones and other voiceover internet protocol devices, according to the indictment.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The indictment also charges four current and former federal inmates accused of coordinating drops using contraband cellphones.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2026
Definition of contraband

Browse Nearby Words

under the influence
under-the-table
under the weather
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Under-the-table.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/under-the-table. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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