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

Synonym Chooser

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

After Russia’s attempts to exploit social-media networks in 2016, some tech companies also started trying to monitor and police this kind of underhanded meddling. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Before Mbappe scored his penalty, Gustavo Velazquez, the Paraguayan defender, scuffed the penalty spot, another underhanded attempt to disturb the tournament favourites. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Years of unrelenting pressure—smear campaigns, interrogations, arrests, a violent raid, and underhanded attempts at control—had succeeded in breaking it. — Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026 The Knicks won Game 3 Friday night, and are on the verge of sweeping their rivals, which serves Philadelphia right for trying to pull off such an underhanded scheme. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for underhanded

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhanded

Adjective

The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
The siblings are likely to dispute Jeanie’s characterization of their actions as deceptive and clandestine, perhaps by pointing to communications with their sister and her responses.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Adjective

Or that the Apollo moon landing in 1969 was staged, the video shot on some clandestine movie set.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
The clandestine manner in which LG monitors were installing ad-pushing software onto third-party devices, however, remains seriously concerning.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 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

Over the last decade, covert tests have revealed vulnerabilities at security checkpoints, with one in 2015 showing a nearly 96% failure rate at screening fake explosives.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
The film imagines a colorful, family-friendly realm concealed just under the surface of video games themselves, populated by a covert guild of guardians tasked with keeping each title operating and preserving every player’s journey.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of covert

Adverb

Wolf’s Shinobi Prosthetic houses a grappling hook for scaling rooftops, leaping between trees, and approaching enemies stealthily.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
From there, the group could stealthily disperse the new strain through air-handling systems at major livestock farms across the United States.

— Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of stealthily

Adjective

But for now, CyberLeek is trying to monetize the GTA 6 leaks by asking for shady donations.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
Others sat in shady spots on Montrose Avenue where the parade units combined with waiting community groups to end the parade at the festival grounds.

— Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of shady

Adjective

And in 1963, Steinem gained national attention for going undercover at one of Hugh Hefner's nightclubs.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
The rest of the officers at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office who were part of setting this undercover operation up and didn’t listen owe the officer an apology.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of undercover

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“Underhanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhanded. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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