skullduggery
Americannoun
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dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery.
They dealt in bribery, graft, and other such skullduggery.
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an instance of dishonest or deceitful behavior; trick.
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)
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Vocab Video Contest (2016) - List 5
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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.
What the Bullmers and company should have known is not to bring a crusading journalist aboard a boat where so much skullduggery is on the itinerary, and so many spoilers in the cargo hold.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
But it comes with all the skullduggery, wheeling and dealing, and conspiracy one would expect, as the frontrunners try to improve their chances of becoming the Vicar of Christ.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025
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
He would be cagey enough to stay ignorant of any overt strife or any other skullduggery that could be laid at his door.
From Highways in Hiding by Smith, George Oliver
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.
