underhand 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of underhandnext
1
as in fraudulent
given to or marked by cheating and deception willing to stoop to underhand methods in order to win

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clandestine
undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others the congressman's underhand attempt to slip several pork barrel items into the bill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

underhand

2 of 2

adverb

as in underhanded

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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 underhand
Adjective
In 1978, Kathleen Madigan won the Mid-Missouri Hoops Shoot Championship by making 14 of 15 attempts, all underhand. — Mac Engel march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026 In a late-game highlight, rookie forward Adou Thiero provided a rare opportunity for Laker fans to cheer, catching a Bronny James underhand lob for an alley-oop dunk through contact. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Each team will alternate tossing the bean bag underhand onto the board until all four bean bags are thrown. — Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 13 June 2023 Pitchers tossed underhand and no one wore gloves yet, resulting in smarting pain in the hands of catchers and first basemen. — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for underhand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhand
  1. fraudulent
  2. clandestine
  3. deceptive
  4. covert
  5. shady
  6. undercover
  7. crooked
  8. underground
Adjective
  • Scammers paste a new code overlapping the restaurant’s code and direct customers to a fraudulent payment system.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The pair allegedly turned in the fraudulent petitions to several petition coordinators, in order to receive payments from a petition management company.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Across Greengrass’ three Bourne movies, the elite assassin turns against the clandestine institution that created him, determined to escape its grip and bring its covert operations to light.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Or that the Apollo moon landing in 1969 was staged, the video shot on some clandestine movie set.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Across Greengrass’ three Bourne movies, the elite assassin turns against the clandestine institution that created him, determined to escape its grip and bring its covert operations to light.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Even within those strict parameters, the researchers discovered that about 1,200 AI agents that were not supposed to be communicating with each other used a covert message board.
    — Shaun Raviv, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • The series contemplates topics like shady lending practices by financial institutions — something that will resonate deeply with today’s economy — and the ethics of placing oneself in a news story.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Melanie’s sister, Steph, begged Melanie to leave Sincere because of his compulsive lying and shady behavior.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • And a special shoutout to Jed York, the 49ers owner who was recently in the news after his arrest for allegedly trying to pay $160 to an undercover officer who was posing as a prostitute.
    — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Police then began an undercover investigation of Conahan and later arrested him on murder charges for Montgomery’s killing.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of undercover
Adjective
  • An incoming generation, simply by their existence, dislodged a crooked anxiety that the new face of Asian America is Wasian.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Under Mitchell, Pecora showed, the nation’s largest bank had become an impeccably groomed racketeering enterprise, dressing up crooked enterprises as gilt-edged to sell their bonds and stocks to unsuspecting buyers.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • In Britain’s North Yorkshire, researchers have established an underground farming facility more than 1,000 meters below ground to test how crops can be cultivated deep beneath the surface.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Unmade follows the legendary underground filmmaker through three years of terminal illness—not as a farewell portrait, but as a final, uncompromising work of his own cinema.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of underground

Browse Nearby Words

undergrowths
underhand
underhanded
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Cite this Entry

“Underhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhand. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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