skullduggery

American  

[skuhl-duhg-uh-ree] / skʌlˈdʌg ə ri /

Sometimes scullduggery, or skulduggery

noun

• skullduggeries
  plural

1. dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery.

   They dealt in bribery, graft, and other such skullduggery.

2. an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• skullduggeries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of skullduggery

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; variant of sculduddery ( def. ), originally Scots: “fornication, obscenity,” of unknown origin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

skullduggery

And over six seasons, the series examined the under-explored territory that lay between two world wars—a kind of historical trench in which all manner of skullduggery could fester and bloom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

This series of The Traitors has featured some of the most explosive scenes the show has ever seen: dramatic twists, Oscar-ready reactions and plenty of skilful skullduggery.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026

To challenge that French postcolonial imperium built by cunning, corruption and covert skullduggery, Moscow needed an operative who could match Jacques Foccart’s legendary mastery of the dirty business of empire, measure for measure.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2023

"That's a pretty hefty prize for low-tech skullduggery," Tomasco said.

From Reuters ● May 10, 2023

I tell you the hull world's full of skullduggery.

From Flowing Gold by Rex Ellingwood Beach