underhand

[uhn-der-hand]

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

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

/ ˈʌndəˌhænd /

adjective

1. clandestine, deceptive, or secretive

2. sport another word for underarm

adverb

1. in an underhand manner or style

Word History and Origins

Origin of underhand¹

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

"It is unacceptable that the government has decided to turn its back on them in such an underhand way, and we must continue to advocate for them," she added.

From BBC

A man who worked in the ticketing industry for almost 40 years showed us how he infiltrated a secret online group that claims to have secured thousands of tickets using underhand methods.

From BBC

Which is why, in the days immediately afterward, he then incorporated underhand flip drills into his pregame work as well.

From Los Angeles Times

However, he had "suffered a 'vicious, underhand and pre-meditated attack' and will now never get that opportunity," said Ms Purser.

From BBC

They all know that every French political party has resorted to similar underhand methods in the past.

From BBC