1
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
2
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
as in underhand
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of underhanded
Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
This one was with the left hand, too, an underhanded prayer over the reach of Texas A&M’s Solomon Washington.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025
If the other AGIs take the bait, the insidious AGI stands tall as the best, assuming nobody finds out the underhanded gambit at play.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Henry noted that Reese also attempts many of her layups underhanded, a technique that places the ball low enough for smaller guards such as Skylar Diggins-Smith to block her shot.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underhanded
Adjective
This act, designed to build intrigue for their WrestleMania match, portrayed Cena as underhanded.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
This one was with the left hand, too, an underhanded prayer over the reach of Texas A&M’s Solomon Washington.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2025
If the other AGIs take the bait, the insidious AGI stands tall as the best, assuming nobody finds out the underhanded gambit at play.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Henry noted that Reese also attempts many of her layups underhanded, a technique that places the ball low enough for smaller guards such as Skylar Diggins-Smith to block her shot.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for underhanded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhanded
Adjective
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California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, filed a suit against ExxonMobil last year that, in part, accuses the oil giant of deceptive claims regarding chemical recycling, which the company disputes.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
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During the defense’s cross-examination of Kid Cudi, lawyers representing Combs portrayed Ventura as deceptive of both men.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Tired of using bulky night vision goggles for your clandestine nocturnal activities?—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2025
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The fiery combination of Mars trine Venus sparks things up in your clandestine 12th house of secrets and eighth house of intimate affairs.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Adverb
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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
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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
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On May 30, 2025, a Pennsylvania federal court refused NFL player agent Todd France’s request to vacate a December 2023 arbitration decision which ordered France to pay over $800,000 in damages to rival agent Jason Bernstein and which excoriated France for fraudulent conduct.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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The couple were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion and sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Patti LuPone had a shady reaction to questions about Audra McDonald in a new interview.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
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Backpack-wearing college students dart across crosswalks, coffee in hand, while neighbors stroll shady sidewalks leading pups on leashes.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Striking Iran’s nuclear program would likely set off a much larger conflict in which Israel and the United States hunt for covert Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran retaliates in the Middle East and beyond.—
Richard Nephew,
Foreign Affairs,
26 May 2025
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Mon Mothma's speech Mon Mothma's covert support of the Rebels becomes public following the devastating events of the Ghorman Massacre.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Among them is Tonic, which stars Blair (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) as Sebastian Poe, a struggling jazz pianist who is given 24 hours to kill a dangerous drug dealer (Westwick) by a crooked cop (Jaso Coviello), and spirals into a moral and emotional tailspin.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
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Cigarette smoke, dames to kill for, crooked cops — latex super suit?—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Over the course of the investigation, Salinas Valencia sold the undercover officer several firearms, including two machineguns, as well as fentanyl pills and cocaine.—
Brian Bell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2025
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Officer 18 was a standout among undercover officers, doubling his or her regular pay all three years.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Underhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhanded. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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