Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

underhand

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of underhand

1 given to or marked by cheating and deception
  • willing to stoop to underhand methods in order to win
Synonyms of underhand

bent [chiefly British], crooked, deceptive, dishonest, double-dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhanded
Words Related to underhand

unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous

deceitful, deceiving, deluding, delusive, delusory, false

artful, beguiling, cagey (also cagy), crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly, subtle, wily

defrauding, devious, furtive, slippery, sneaking, sneaky, trickish, tricky

insidious, perfidious, treacherous
Near Antonyms of underhand

conscientious, decent, ethical, honorable, just, scrupulous, upright

forthright, straightforward
Antonyms of underhand

aboveboard, honest, straight
2 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 of underhand

backstairs, behind-the-scenes, clandestine, covert, furtive, hole-and-corner, hugger-mugger, hush-hush, private, privy, secret, sneak, sneaking, sneaky, stealth, stealthy, surreptitious, undercover, underground, underhanded
Words Related to underhand

back-channel, closed-door, off-the-books, off-the-record

classified, confidential, restricted, top secret, undisclosed

concealed, hidden, secreted, subterranean, unadvertised, unexposed
Near Antonyms of underhand

acknowledged, avowed

aboveboard, straightforward, unconcealed, undisguised

unclassified, unrestricted

clear, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain
Antonyms of underhand

open, overt, public

Learn More about underhand

  1. See words that rhyme with underhand Dictionary: Definition of underhand Spanish Central: Translation of underhand Nglish: Translation of underhand for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of underhand for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up underhand? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

Listen to the pronounciation of bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  2. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  3. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games