UNDERHANDEDLY Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

underhandedly

adverb

Definition of underhandedly

as in surreptitiously

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for underhandedly

Adverb

The centerpiece of the government’s case is that the defendants surreptitiously drugged women.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
For years, scammers would surreptitiously install skimming devices on card readers at ATMs, gas pumps and corner stores.

— Eli Hager, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of surreptitiously

Adverb

There had been small tweaks season to season as the series traveled to different locations — all of them telegraphed in the start-of-production slate photos that stealthily revealed the new logo (including the Season 4 one).

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
The spread of the video was aided by clippers, accounts that post hundreds of clips in a single day and are paid by companies to stealthily link these viral moments to their platforms.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of stealthily

Adverb

But the two still co-parented well, and developed a teasing relationship, with McQueen sneakily making sure to marry his last wife, model Barbara Minty, before Adams married her second husband Alvin Toffel in 1980.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
It may be branded a Gen Z series, but FX’s Adults is sneakily quite a throwback.

— Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of sneakily

Adverb

And the regime has trustees in many surrounding nations who secretively conduct transactions for the regime in the form of US dollars, cryptocurrency or other means to avoid detection, according to Brown.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
The state, in partnership with the federal government, built the camp quickly and secretively and opened it in July.

— Eve Samples, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026

Definition of secretively

Adverb

There are cities where rats are glimpsed at night, furtively scurrying into a dark corner or among the train tracks.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026
Jordan may wish to exact revenge, and Eddy may want to find one of the victims who has vanished, but both have to go about their work furtively.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of furtively

Adverb

In addition, Homeland Security was apparently investigating nonprofits and other organizations that help get out the vote, including interrogating the staff and covertly infiltrating their operations, according to court documents.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Either form can be easily and covertly placed into an unsuspecting person’s beverage or food.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of covertly

Adverb

In 1983, Baker and Casey became embroiled in a public dispute over who had clandestinely obtained Jimmy Carter’s briefing book for the 1980 Presidential debate.

— Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Because Iran is a theocratic dictatorship that routinely arrests and in some cases executes journalists, Western reporters hoping to cover the country must either work clandestinely or submit to government supervision.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

Definition of clandestinely

Adverb

Each team will alternate tossing the bean bag underhand onto the board until all four bean bags are thrown.

— Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 13 June 2023
Pitchers tossed underhand and no one wore gloves yet, resulting in smarting pain in the hands of catchers and first basemen.

— Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2023

Definition of underhand

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

underhanded

underhandedly

underhandedness

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“Underhandedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/underhandedly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of underhandedly

adverb

Example Sentences

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