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
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Physical Education - Middle School and High School
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: under-
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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.
The dog trainer said they are often people-orientated and want to please, so there is no need to use any excessive force or underhand training methods.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 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
One bailiff said he was incentivised to use underhand tactics.
From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024
With 11:46 left, Fifita attempted to escape a Ralen Goforth sack with an underhand flip to tight end Tanner McLachlan.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2023
The troll was reaching in toward Juliet underhand.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
