underhanded

[ uhn-der-han-did ]

adjective

1. not open and aboveboard; secret and crafty or dishonorable:

   The firm's underhanded tactics and misrepresentation of data has created uncertainty and confusion.

2. underhand ( def 1 ):

   The pitcher made an underhanded throw to first base.

3. short-handed:

   By the time of the Navy game, Army usually finds itself underhanded.

underhanded

/ ˌʌndəˈhændɪd /

adjective

1. another word for underhand short-handed

Derived Forms

• ˌunderˈhandedness, noun
• ˌunderˈhandedly, adverb

Other Words From

• un·der·hand·ed·ly adverb
• un·der·hand·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underhanded¹

First recorded in 1820–25; under- + handed

Example Sentences

Some find underhanded ways to gain a competitive edge.

From New York Times

"The amount of money we've lost and the way we’ve been treated, in my opinion is very underhanded and lacking in transparency," he added.

From BBC

The bipartisan legislation, signed into law by President Joe Biden, limits many underhanded means Trump’s allies would otherwise employ in case of another electoral loss, including sending in bogus alternative slates of electors.

From Salon

Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan, one of the unsung heroes of the Biden team, is working to keep monopolistic companies from harming consumers and workers through price-fixing schemes, non-compete agreements and other underhanded tactics.

From Salon

Finally, I'm really looking forward to seeing if the DA can make a convincing case that the way the hush money payments were made was illegal, and not just sketchy and underhanded politics.

From Salon

Related Words

• devious
• dishonest
• fraudulent
• shady
• sneaky
• subversive
• unethical
• unscrupulous
• wily