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
Pulling Exercises Resistance Band–Assisted Pull-Up Place one foot inside the band and grip the bar with an overhand or underhand grip, with your hands about shoulder-width apart. — Greg Presto, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026 Humans were seen tossing balls underhand or stepping up to test batting responses. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Nov. 2025
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
  • Bruneau moved in with her boyfriend and told her family that Larry Brown was pressuring her to sign fraudulent insurance documents with inflated repair costs, according to the affidavit.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Keep records of all communications and fraudulent transactions.
    — Brian Sloan,Dan Avery, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of fraudulent
Adjective
  • Attorney Cynthia Jennings, who spoke at a press conference called several days after the police were at the treasurer’s office, had condemned social media speculation about Sierra’s action and the claims of clandestine shredding of documents.
    — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026
  • That the actual, original Antifa formed in clandestine resistance to Nazi terror during the early 1930s appears lost amid the rhetorical vagaries of political propaganda.
    — Ara H. Merjian, ARTnews.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of clandestine
Adjective
  • The standout interlude is the soldiers’ visit to the island domain of Circe, a treacherous witch played with deceptive calm and a misleading air of distraction by a bone-chilling Samantha Morton.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • Using a clinician’s name, image, or credentials in a synthetic endorsement without consent should be treated as deceptive practice, with liability directed toward those who commission or distribute the content.
    — Henry Bair, STAT, 14 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • These functions can be critical in various applications and scenarios, such as inspections, covert surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, disaster monitoring, and agricultural pest tracking.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • Although, with words like emergency and bunker—the skeptics have made routine election work seem like a covert-ops thriller.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of covert
Adjective
  • Debbie, named after Coates’ mother, feels betrayed by Judith and her husband, who is involved in shady dealings with an Albanian gang.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • But the story about the war hero Odysseus, whose journey home with his men is beset by sea storms, shipwrecks, gods, monsters and shady ladies, set the template for literature, comic books, science fiction and Hollywood epics for centuries to come.
    — Jim Beckerman, USA Today, 16 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
  • The complaint was the result of a months-long investigation in which undercover operators posed as prospective tenants and recorded phone calls with Greystar employees to test their compliance with the law.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The Chicago Police Department also carries out undercover stings at small massage parlors after the city receives complaints of vice activity.
    — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of undercover

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underhand
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Cite this Entry

“Underhand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhand. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of underhand for Spanish Speakers

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