UNDERHANDED Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'underhanded' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of underhanded are clandestine , covert , furtive , secret , stealthy , and surreptitious . While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," underhanded stresses fraud or deception. // an underhanded trick

Q: Where would 'clandestine' be a reasonable alternative to 'underhanded'?

In some situations, the words clandestine and underhanded are roughly equivalent. However, clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered. // a clandestine meeting of conspirators

Q: When is 'covert' a more appropriate choice than 'underhanded'?

The meanings of covert and underhanded largely overlap; however, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared. // covert intelligence operations

Q: When can 'furtive' be used instead of 'underhanded'?

Although the words furtive and underhanded have much in common, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness. // lovers exchanging furtive glances

Q: When might 'secret' be a better fit than 'underhanded'?

While the synonyms secret and underhanded are close in meaning, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive. // met at a secret location

Q: When could 'stealthy' be used to replace 'underhanded'?

The words stealthy and underhanded can be used in similar contexts, but stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing. // the stealthy step of a burglar

Q: When is it sensible to use 'surreptitious' instead of 'underhanded'?

The synonyms surreptitious and underhanded are sometimes interchangeable, but surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority. // the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

underhanded 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of underhanded

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception the commercial is a part of an underhanded PR campaign to whitewash the company's environmental record

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clandestine

undertaken or done so as to escape being observed or known by others an underhanded attempt at infiltrating the other party's headquarters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

underhanded

2 of 2

adverb

as in underhand

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How is the word underhanded distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of underhanded are clandestine, covert, furtive, secret, stealthy, and surreptitious. While all these words mean "done without attracting observation," underhanded stresses fraud or deception.

an underhanded trick

Where would clandestine be a reasonable alternative to underhanded?

In some situations, the words clandestine and underhanded are roughly equivalent. However, clandestine implies secrecy usually for an evil, illicit, or unauthorized purpose and often emphasizes the fear of being discovered.

a clandestine meeting of conspirators

When is covert a more appropriate choice than underhanded?

The meanings of covert and underhanded largely overlap; however, covert stresses the fact of not being open or declared.

covert intelligence operations

When can furtive be used instead of underhanded?

Although the words furtive and underhanded have much in common, furtive implies a sly or cautious stealthiness.

lovers exchanging furtive glances

When might secret be a better fit than underhanded?

While the synonyms secret and underhanded are close in meaning, secret implies concealment on any grounds for any motive.

met at a secret location

When could stealthy be used to replace underhanded?

The words stealthy and underhanded can be used in similar contexts, but stealthy suggests taking pains to avoid being seen or heard especially in some misdoing.

the stealthy step of a burglar

When is it sensible to use surreptitious instead of underhanded?

The synonyms surreptitious and underhanded are sometimes interchangeable, but surreptitious applies to action or behavior done secretly often with skillful avoidance of detection and in violation of custom, law, or authority.

the surreptitious stockpiling of weapons

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 underhanded

Adjective

As Cronenworth beat Ashby to first base by a few inches, beating Bauer’s underhanded toss and keeping the inning alive, Tatis alertly scored the tying run. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The most common theory is that someone, and probably someone rich, seeks to improve their view of the lake in a monstrous and underhanded fashion, leaving both the trees and the town’s beach-goers as collective victims. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026 However, the process doesn’t erase the optics, which are as underhanded and greedy as ever. — Tyrone E. Keys Jr, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026 All those underhanded importers also view AI as their own helpful tool. — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underhanded

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhanded

Adjective

Supporters say licensing will give California the authority to act on any complaints, and to investigate and penalize companies for unfair or deceptive practices.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Esparza pushed back against the claim that the group was being deceptive.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Adjective

There was something sad in our meetups always having to be clandestine.

— Erica Garza, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
The arrest, the official explained, came after the Attorney General’s Office concluded that there had been misconduct in an April operation in which state officials dismantled a clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratory.

— Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of clandestine

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

Definition of underhand

Adjective

Brazil's Supreme Court is investigating claims that Bolsonaro used a sports betting company to launder fraudulent deductions from government pensions paid to senior citizens.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Verify the breach notification before responding Scammers frequently use real data breaches as an excuse to send fraudulent emails.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of fraudulent

Adjective

Anthropic also wants to investigate covert misalignment, where models conceal their intentions instead of openly displaying concerning behavior.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Tehran denies involvement, but the incident raises the prospect of covert operations against American military assets beyond the Middle East.

— Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of covert

Adverb

These two are almost too good at stealthily murdering soldiers in the dead of night.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Ever since Air France rolled out its new La Première service in 2025, the French flag carrier has stealthily risen to the top of the First Class food chain.

— Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of stealthily

Adjective

Both about power-mad blondes getting involved with the shadier side of the medical industrial complex, but Matt Hagen’s nanites worked, dammit!

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Many shady electronics companies are happy to sell you the wrong component for the wrong price.

— Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of shady

Adjective

An unverified Snapchat message, which students in France claim was written by an undercover police officer, has become the slogan of student protests.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
From that moment on, Liang went all-in on becoming the beloved fighter, putting herself through an intense physical transformation to embody the undercover Interpol agent.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of undercover

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“Underhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhanded. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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