as in under-the-counter
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Recent Examples of under-the-table
Skinner is a reprieve from Aishe’s life working in brutal restaurant kitchens for under-the-table wages; Aishe is a grounding force for Skinner, grieving the loss of his best friend and managing his PTSD symptoms with a cocktail of meds and plenty of booze.
—
Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
As alluded to previously, many athletes accepted under-the-table payments from schools (and their partners) who knew their contributions have a meaningful impact on their (and their partners’) bottom line.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 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
In it, deaf canteen employee Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis) lands an under-the-table gig as a covert lip reader for the police and finagles her way into the apex of an upcoming heist operation.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under-the-table
Katie Walsh, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
As alluded to previously, many athletes accepted under-the-table payments from schools (and their partners) who knew their contributions have a meaningful impact on their (and their partners’) bottom line.
—Nick Lomaglio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 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
In it, deaf canteen employee Alison Brooks (Rose Ayling-Ellis) lands an under-the-table gig as a covert lip reader for the police and finagles her way into the apex of an upcoming heist operation.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for under-the-table
Recent Examples of Synonyms for under-the-table
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
-
Knowing that any unauthorized demonstrations are harshly suppressed, activists have tried to organize authorized rallies, plastered posters on walls and notice boards, and filed lawsuits.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Registration on the Principal Register provides nationwide constructive notice, a legal presumption of ownership, and the right to use the ® symbol — tools that matter when knockoffs and unauthorized merchandise inevitably appear.—
PJ Green
April 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The events are typically unsanctioned and to the surprise of local law enforcement.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities arrested 133 people on charges like disorderly conduct as unsanctioned events drew huge crowds despite restrictions on loud music and alcohol.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Together, experts paint a picture of a sector where formal investment risks intersecting with criminal governance, armed violence and illicit supply chains.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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This aroused suspicion and eventually led to searches of Kamnik’s phone, computer, and external hard drive, which revealed a massive trove of illicit material.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An unlicensed juvenile driver led deputies on a rush hour car chase the ended when the vehicle slammed into a tree and caught fire, according to investigators in North Carolina.—
Mark Price
April 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Another, by the Agency for Health Care Administration, examined whether the Flagami house where Rabell lived was an unlicensed elder care facility.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The evidence in favor of many other unapproved peptides is even sparser.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
For the past month, wellness and longevity enthusiasts have eagerly waited for the federal government to loosen restrictions on some of the trendy and unapproved therapies.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While many of the California laws banning the political use of public office are civil statutes, one is a criminal statute.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
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More than 58% of them had prior criminal convictions, while nearly 24% more had pending charges.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In March 2023, Duggar’s release date was extended by nearly two months over a contraband cellphone.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The documentary, from filmmakers behind HBO’s The Jinx, was shot over six years on contraband phones by the men who risked their lives to participate in this film, which unearthed over 1,300 deaths of people in custody inside Alabama correctional facilities between 2019 and 2024.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Under-the-table.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/under-the-table. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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