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.
What you may not underhand is how the same spirit of pseudo-news came to infect mainstream journalism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
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
"The case against Mr Mackintosh is that he received those donations knowing that Mr Grossman was doing it in that underhand way."
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2023
“Here,” he said, tossing it underhand at Tyrion.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
