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

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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. sneak
  7. crooked
  8. undercover
Adjective
  • Under federal law, persons who 'knowingly and willfully … make any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation' to Congress may be subject to penalties.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Mind you, Miss Manners agrees with your indignation at this fraudulent maneuver.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • In the past, drug traffickers approached the community seeking to build a clandestine airstrip inside their territory.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The film’s trailer, guided by the unofficial Mayor of the Marquis, Billy Bob Thornton, hints at the tales of wild nights, impromptu poolside concerts, and a clandestine stairway excursion.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • At 6ft 3in (190cm) with unconventional movement mechanics, he is likened to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike for his deceptive play.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Distinguished by unique morphological features like a longer tail and specific tooth structure, alongside genetic evidence, the stingray's identification underscores the complexity of taxonomy where appearances can be deceptive.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Undersea infrastructure like optical fiber internet cables, pipelines, sensor arrays are vulnerable to covert UUV operations.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
  • Pickaxe Mountain is near Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Complex, where an explosion in July 2020, possibly caused by a covert Israeli attack, caused serious damage to the country’s nuclear program.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 July 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Keep the cuttings in a shady site and mist several times a day to have plants ready for containers or other flower beds in about a month.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
  • These shady sites are great nap spots for rattlesnakes, which are common to the area.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts.
    — Mehera Bonner, Marie Claire, 15 Mar. 2017
Definition of sneak
Adjective
  • Resurrection Dex’s Resurrection is an uncomfortably honest and self-critical mixtape about the British rapper attempting to reform his crooked ways.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • Whitehead, meanwhile, crystalizes his sense of what makes the city run, where Carney fits in, and how the straight and crooked worlds are entwined in one strange ecosystem with laws that only the lawless can enforce.
    — David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • In May of this year, undercover detectives observed Velasquez eating dinner with two plastic forks at a restaurant, according to the affidavit.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • In August 2024, Perez, then 29, communicated with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl, according to the press release.
    — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of undercover

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Cite this Entry

“Underhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhand. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of underhand for Spanish Speakers

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