If an action is underhand or if it is done in an underhand way, it is done secretly and dishonestly.
[disapproval]
...underhand financial deals.
...a list of the underhanded ways in which their influence operates in the UnitedStates.
She accused the government of being underhand.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use underhand or underhanded to describe actions, such as throwing a ball, in which you do not raise your arm above your shoulder.
[US]
...an underhanded pitch.
Underhand is also an adverb.
In softball, pitches are tossed underhand.
regional note: in BRIT, use underarm
More Synonyms of underhand
underhand in British English
(ˈʌndəˌhænd)
adjective also: underhanded
1.
clandestine, deceptive, or secretive
2. sport another word for underarm
adverb
3.
in an underhand manner or style
underhand in American English
(ˈʌndərˌhænd)
adjective
1.
performed with the hand below the level of the elbow or the arm below the level of the shoulder
an underhand throw
2.
underhanded (sense 1)
adverb
3.
with an underhand motion
4. Archaic
not openly or straightforwardly
Examples of 'underhand' in a sentence
underhand
Hold the bar in an underhand grip and curl the bar upwards.
The Sun (2013)
No one was lying or doing anything underhand.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We do not vote these people in to act in this underhand way.
The Sun (2007)
Why do brands employ such underhand tactics to sell to us?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These underhand sales tactics drive down its reputation further.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Could it be because they use exactly the same underhand tactics?
The Sun (2013)
His behaviour in administering the injections was consistent with the underhand and covert manner in which he purchased the drug.
The Sun (2013)
Our politicians would love to tell the press what to print and so cover up their underhand way of life.
The Sun (2011)
Mostly from land and underhand deals.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Legal experts said that this was a breach of data protection law by collecting personal information in an unfair or underhand manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Parties and organisations who encourage such shameful, underhand practices are a disgrace to democracy.
The Sun (2015)
England's bid team members have made clear that they are not prepared to use underhand tactics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Picking a round so confidently smacks more of huge self-belief than anything underhand.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The entire display works on you in this slippery, underhand manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It's a devious and underhand tactic.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Making a fair profit is important but it can't be done in an underhand and predatory way.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She admits agents have a tarnished reputation for being greedy and alleged underhand dealing but says money is not the top priority for her agency.
The Sun (2011)
We haven't done anything underhand.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Horrified at having her spending curbed, she resorts to underhand methods until she is caught cheating at her favourite wine bar.
The Sun (2006)
A refusal to bend to underhand practices is admirable, but an inability to present a united front has been negligent.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The big mobile phone companies, it is fair to point out, do not obviously condone underhand practices.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My experience on a recent trip from south Wales to Southampton must be near the top of its class for underhand police methods of catching errant motorists.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
underhand
British English: underhand ADJECTIVE
If an action is underhand or if it is done in an underhand way, it is done secretly and dishonestly.
...underhand financial deals.
American English: underhand
Brazilian Portuguese: secreto e desonesto
Chinese: 秘密的
European Spanish: poco limpio
French: sournois
German: hinterhältig
Italian: subdolo
Japanese: 裏手口の
Korean: 정정당당하지 못한
European Portuguese: secreto e desonesto
Latin American Spanish: sucio
(adjective)
Definition
sly, deceitful, and secretive
The Prime Minister had been involved in underhand financial deals.
Synonyms
sly
He is devious, sly and manipulative.
secret
I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
crooked (informal)
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
devious
She tracked down the other woman by devious means.
sneaky
One kid can generally tell when another kid is sneaky.
secretive
fraudulent
fraudulent claims about being a nurse
treacherous
dishonest
He had become rich by dishonest means.
deceptive
Her worst fault is a strongly deceptive streak.
clandestine
They are said to have been holding clandestine meetings for years.
unscrupulous
These kids are being exploited by very unscrupulous people.
crafty
That crafty old devil had taken us all for a ride.
unethical
I thought it was unethical for doctors to operate upon family members.
furtive
a furtive glance over her shoulder
deceitful
The ambassador called the report deceitful and misleading.
surreptitious
They had several surreptitious conversations.
stealthy
It was a stealthy sound made by someone anxious not to be heard.
dishonourable
below the belt (informal)
Do you think it's a bit below the belt, what they're doing?
underhanded
Opposites
open
,
legal
, above board,
frank
,
principled
, outright,
honourable
,
honest
,
scrupulous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of below the belt
Definition
unscrupulous or cowardly
Do you think it's a bit below the belt, what they're doing?
Synonyms
unfair,
foul,
crooked (informal),
cowardly,
sly,
fraudulent,
unjust,
dishonest,
deceptive,
unscrupulous,
devious,
unethical,
sneaky,
furtive,
deceitful,
surreptitious,
dishonourable,
unsporting,
unsportsmanlike,
underhanded,
not playing the game (informal)
in the sense of clandestine
Definition
secret and concealed
They are said to have been holding clandestine meetings for years.
Synonyms
secret,
private,
hidden,
underground,
concealed,
closet,
covert,
sly,
furtive,
underhand,
surreptitious,
stealthy,
cloak-and-dagger,
under-the-counter
in the sense of crafty
Definition
skilled in deception
That crafty old devil had taken us all for a ride.
Synonyms
cunning,
scheming,
sly,
devious,
knowing,
designing,
sharp,
calculating,
subtle,
tricky,
shrewd,
astute,
fraudulent,
canny,
wily,
insidious,
artful,
foxy,
deceitful,
duplicitous,
tricksy,
guileful
Synonyms of 'underhand'
underhand
Explore 'underhand' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crooked
Definition
dishonest or illegal
She might expose his crooked business deals to the authorities.
Synonyms
dishonest,
criminal,
illegal,
corrupt,
dubious,
questionable,
unlawful,
shady (informal),
fraudulent,
unscrupulous,
under-the-table,
bent (slang),
shifty,
deceitful,
underhand,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
nefarious,
knavish (archaic)
in the sense of deceitful
Definition
full of deceit
The ambassador called the report deceitful and misleading.
Synonyms
dishonest,
false,
deceiving,
fraudulent,
treacherous,
deceptive,
hypocritical,
counterfeit,
crafty,
sneaky,
illusory,
two-faced,
disingenuous,
untrustworthy,
underhand,
insincere,
double-dealing,
duplicitous,
fallacious,
guileful,
knavish (archaic)
in the sense of deceptive
Her worst fault is a strongly deceptive streak.
Synonyms
dishonest,
deceiving,
fraudulent,
treacherous,
hypocritical,
crafty,
sneaky,
two-faced,
disingenuous,
deceitful,
untrustworthy,
underhand,
insincere,
duplicitous,
guileful
in the sense of devious
Definition
insincere and dishonest
She tracked down the other woman by devious means.
Synonyms
sly,
scheming,
calculating,
tricky,
crooked (informal),
indirect,
treacherous,
dishonest,
wily,
insidious,
evasive,
deceitful,
underhand,
insincere,
surreptitious,
double-dealing,
not straightforward
in the sense of dishonest
Definition
not honest or fair
He had become rich by dishonest means.
Synonyms
deceitful,
corrupt,
crooked (informal),
designing,
lying,
bent (slang),
false,
unfair,
cheating,
deceiving,
shady (informal),
fraudulent,
treacherous,
deceptive,
unscrupulous,
crafty,
swindling,
disreputable,
untrustworthy,
double-dealing,
unprincipled,
mendacious,
perfidious (literary),
untruthful,
guileful,
knavish (archaic)
in the sense of fraudulent
Definition
proceeding from fraud
fraudulent claims about being a nurse
Synonyms
deceitful,
false,
crooked (informal),
untrue,
sham,
treacherous,
dishonest,
deceptive,
counterfeit,
spurious,
crafty,
swindling,
double-dealing,
duplicitous,
knavish (archaic),
phoney or phony (informal),
criminal
in the sense of furtive
Definition
sly, cautious, and secretive
a furtive glance over her shoulder
Synonyms
sly,
secret,
hidden,
sneaking,
covert,
cloaked,
behind someone's back,
secretive,
clandestine,
sneaky,
under-the-table,
slinking,
conspiratorial,
skulking,
underhand,
surreptitious,
stealthy
in the sense of secret
Definition
operating without the knowledge of outsiders
I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.
Synonyms
undercover,
covert,
furtive,
shrouded,
behind someone's back,
conspiratorial,
underhand,
hush-hush (informal),
surreptitious,
cloak-and-dagger,
backstairs
in the sense of sneaky
One kid can generally tell when another kid is sneaky.
Synonyms
sly,
dishonest,
devious,
mean,
low,
base,
nasty,
cowardly,
slippery,
unreliable,
malicious,
unscrupulous,
furtive,
disingenuous,
shifty (informal),
snide,
deceitful,
contemptible,
untrustworthy,
double-dealing
in the sense of stealthy
It was a stealthy sound made by someone anxious not to be heard.
Synonyms
secret,
secretive,
furtive,
sneaking,
covert,
sly,
clandestine,
sneaky,
skulking,
underhand,
surreptitious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of surreptitious
Definition
done in secret or without permission
They had several surreptitious conversations.
Synonyms
secret,
clandestine,
furtive,
sneaking,
veiled,
covert,
sly,
fraudulent,
unauthorized,
underhand,
stealthy
in the sense of unethical
Definition
morally wrong
I thought it was unethical for doctors to operate upon family members.
Synonyms
immoral,
wrong,
improper,
illegal,
dirty,
unfair,
shady (informal),
dishonest,
unscrupulous,
under-the-table,
unprofessional,
disreputable,
underhand,
unprincipled,
dishonourable,
not cricket (informal)
in the sense of unscrupulous
Definition
prepared to act in a dishonest or immoral manner
These kids are being exploited by very unscrupulous people.