underhand

American  

[uhn-der-hand] / ˈʌn dərˌhænd /

adjective

1. executed with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.

   an underhand delivery of a ball.

2. underhanded.

   an underhand deal with the chief of police.

   Synonyms:

   surreptitious, clandestine, sly, stealthy

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adverb

1. with the hand below the level of the shoulder and the palm turned upward and forward.

   to bowl underhand.

2. secretly; stealthily; slyly.

underhand British  

/ ˈʌndəˌhænd /

adjective

1. clandestine, deceptive, or secretive

2. sport another word for underarm

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adverb

1. in an underhand manner or style

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”; under-, hand

Example Sentences

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

As he was leaving the field, a frustrated López hoisted his glove high into the air with an underhand toss.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

"It makes me feel very sad, I trust everybody and I don't expect people to steal things or be underhand," she added.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 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

“I’ve told Missis often my opinion about the child, and Missis agreed with me. She’s an underhand little thing: I never saw a girl of her age with so much cover.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë