skullduggery
Americannoun
-
dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery.
They dealt in bribery, graft, and other such skullduggery.
-
an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of skullduggery
An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; variant of sculduddery ( def. ), originally Scots: “fornication, obscenity,” of unknown origin
Vocabulary lists containing skullduggery
2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (M-Z)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
During an appearance on Yahoo News' "Skullduggery" podcast, Luttig was asked about the potential charges facing Trump and whether he could land in prison if convicted.
From Salon • Dec. 25, 2022
Back in Essex, Mr Rawlings has a boat called Skullduggery.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2022
Baker, on an episode of Yahoo News podcast "Skullduggery," said that "analogies" were made to J. Edgar Hoover--the former FBI director who famously abused his power to blackmail individuals.
From Fox News • May 17, 2019
Like many Americans, Peter Koehl of Skullduggery Inc., a toy maker in Anaheim, California, isn’t yet familiar with the details of the tax changes.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2017
Skullduggery: The Musical Prequel to Hamlet Claudius, Gertrude and Hamlet’s father are caught up in a romantic triangle in Michael Shaw Fisher’s new musical inspired by Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
