underhand
Americanadjective
-
executed with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.
an underhand delivery of a ball.
-
an underhand deal with the chief of police.
- Synonyms:
- surreptitious, clandestine, sly, stealthy
adverb
-
with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.
to bowl underhand.
-
secretly; stealthily; slyly.
adjective
-
clandestine, deceptive, or secretive
-
sport another word for underarm
adverb
Etymology
Origin of underhand
First recorded before 900; 1530–40 underhand for def. 2; Middle English adverb under honde “in one's possession, in one's charge, secretly,” Old English under hand, under hond(e) “in one's possession, in one's subjection, in one's power”; see origin at under-, hand
Vocabulary lists containing underhand
Physical Education - Introductory
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!
Physical Education - Middle School and High School
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!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: under-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
One parent said she was never worried anything underhand was happening and that Blackmore had been "a really good teacher".
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Which is why, in the days immediately afterward, he then incorporated underhand flip drills into his pregame work as well.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025
Dick Dastardly was a character in 1960s animated TV series Wacky Races - and several other cartoons and films since - who would try to win by utilising underhand tactics.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2024
Donovan Mitchell threw a 50-foot inbounds pass underhand, Bam Adebayo inbounded a ball off Nikola Jokic’s backside before dribbling downcourt and making a 3, and Devin Booker went through pregame with a hat on backwards.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2024
Although she throws underhand and not hard, she never misses.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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.
