UNDERHANDEDLY Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

underhandedly

adverb

Definition of underhandedly

as in surreptitiously

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhandedly

Adverb

Among the most intriguing possibilities, Brouhard said, is that Gulf nations exporting oil are surreptitiously paying Iran fees in exchange for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz – even as they’re secured by US military escorts.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
In the first image above, Wardle can be seen using a simple terminal command to surreptitiously send a prompt to the Meta endpoint.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of surreptitiously

Adverb

There had been small tweaks season to season as the series traveled to different locations — all of them telegraphed in the start-of-production slate photos that stealthily revealed the new logo (including the Season 4 one).

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
The spread of the video was aided by clippers, accounts that post hundreds of clips in a single day and are paid by companies to stealthily link these viral moments to their platforms.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of stealthily

Adverb

It may be branded a Gen Z series, but FX’s Adults is sneakily quite a throwback.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
But then there are the bad habits that can sneakily sabotage our skin, and when wrinkles are looming, things get a little more personal.

— Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of sneakily

Adverb

And the regime has trustees in many surrounding nations who secretively conduct transactions for the regime in the form of US dollars, cryptocurrency or other means to avoid detection, according to Brown.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
The state, in partnership with the federal government, built the camp quickly and secretively and opened it in July.

— Eve Samples, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026

Definition of secretively

Adverb

There are cities where rats are glimpsed at night, furtively scurrying into a dark corner or among the train tracks.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026
Jordan may wish to exact revenge, and Eddy may want to find one of the victims who has vanished, but both have to go about their work furtively.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of furtively

Adverb

Either form can be easily and covertly placed into an unsuspecting person’s beverage or food.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
While renting a charming Mediterranean Revival-style villa in the Hollywood Hills, the FBI tapped her phone lines and the CIA covertly intercepted and opened her mail.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of covertly

Adverb

Because Iran is a theocratic dictatorship that routinely arrests and in some cases executes journalists, Western reporters hoping to cover the country must either work clandestinely or submit to government supervision.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Soon afterward, social media commenters were speculating about whether Sierra broke into the office or was caught clandestinely shredding documents.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2026

Definition of clandestinely

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

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.

Browse Nearby Words

underhanded

underhandedly

underhandedness

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“Underhandedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhandedly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of underhandedly

adverb

Example Sentences

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