underhanded

[ uhn-der-han-did ]

adjective

1. not open and aboveboard; secret and crafty or dishonorable:

   The firm's underhanded tactics and misrepresentation of data has created uncertainty and confusion.

2. underhand ( def 1 ):

   The pitcher made an underhanded throw to first base.

3. short-handed:

   By the time of the Navy game, Army usually finds itself underhanded.

underhanded

/ ˌʌndəˈhændɪd /

adjective

1. See short-handed, underhand
   another word for underhand short-handed

Derived Forms

• ˌunderˈhandedly, adverb
• ˌunderˈhandedness, noun

Other Words From

• un·der·hand·ed·ly adverb
• un·der·hand·ed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of underhanded¹

First recorded in 1820–25; under- + handed

Example Sentences

The shot slung up underhanded with his sneakers some 6 inches off the floor.

From FiveThirtyEight

Even the underhanded free throw shooter Rick Barry gets a couple of pages.

From Washington Post

As a result, the inexperienced can find themselves earning well below minimum wage, or abused by underhanded employers.

From The Daily Beast

What I think is a cool part of the scene is that Lane comes in there for completely underhanded, selfish reasons.

From The Daily Beast

Take that, insidious rumormongers suggesting you were doing anything underhanded.

From The Daily Beast

There is something underhanded about the deal or he would have come to me with the money.

From Project Gutenberg

Now our artist is plainly worried and wants to be assured there is nothing underhanded being done.

From Project Gutenberg

I know Mr. Stern, the president of Apex, very well, and I'm positive that he wouldn't stand for any underhanded tactics.

From Project Gutenberg

He picked up a rifle an inch below the foresight with an underhanded action, and used it exactly as a man would use a dagger.

From Project Gutenberg

If Sir Lewis had wanted to get Harris, he'd have done it legally, without any underhanded frame-ups.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• devious
• dishonest
• fraudulent
• shady
• sneaky
• subversive
• unethical
• unscrupulous
• wily