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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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Dissimilar Words

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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

The Celtics weren’t able to create any distance from their pesky hosts until Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the half — one off a nifty underhanded pass from Neemias Queta, the other set up by a Scheierman offensive rebound. — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2026 In California, the law prevents incumbents from pulling off the kind of underhanded stunt that Garcia and Daines managed. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 The underhanded plan The way this plan was launched speaks volumes. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026 Instead of helping the contestant, the complaint alleges that show producers convinced the couple not to quit the show and assured them there was nothing underhanded occurring with their depiction. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for underhanded

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhanded

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

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

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

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

Adverb

Damon can be as crisp an orator as any actor now working, but his performance here reminds you why Jason Bourne, moving stealthily through a crowd like a sheathed dagger, remains one of his defining roles.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
The noble consort takes the empress’s place, smirking, and stealthily pushes her down the stairs when no one is watching.

— Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026

Definition of stealthily

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

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

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

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