underhand

1 of 2

adverb

un·​der·​hand ˈən-dər-ˌhand 

1

a

: in a clandestine manner

b

archaic : in a quiet or unobtrusive manner

2

: with an underhand motion

bowl underhand

pitch underhand

underhand

2 of 2

adjective

1

: underhanded

2

: done so as to evade notice

3

: made with the hand brought forward and up from below the shoulder level

an underhand serve

Synonyms

Adjective

• bent [chiefly British]
• crooked
• deceptive
• dishonest
• double-dealing
• duplicitous
• fast
• fraudulent
• guileful
• rogue
• shady
• sharp
• shifty
• underhanded

Examples of underhand in a Sentence

Adjective

willing to stoop to underhand methods in order to win

the congressman's underhand attempt to slip several pork barrel items into the bill

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Adjective

Softball has a bigger ball and underhand pitching, as well as a smaller diamond, a closer fence, and a different style of play that is both faster and simpler. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 17 Mar. 2025

The rest of those underhand shots resulted in misses while six of her makes on a 7-for-16 shooting night came off overhand layups. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for underhand

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

underhand

1 of 2 adverb

un·​der·​hand ˈən-dər-ˌhand 

1

: in an underhand or secret manner

2

: with an underhand motion

throw underhand

underhand

2 of 2 adjective

1

: done in secret or so as to deceive : sly

underhand methods

2

: performed with the hand kept below the level of the shoulder

an underhand pitch