Underhanded
mediumNegative toneun-der-HAN-did
adjective
Definition
Acting or done in a secret or dishonest way
Memory hook
Doing things UNDER the HAND (table) — secret and dishonest dealings.
Examples
“The underhanded tactics were exposed.”
“He used underhanded methods to win the contract.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ tactics were exposed.”
Show answer
underhanded
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Underhanded is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "deceitful" or "duplicitous" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "forthright".
Related GRE Words
fraudulent
Obtained, done by, or involving deception; dishonest
disingenuous
Not candid or sincere; pretending to know less than one does
mendacious
given to lying; dishonest
chicanery
The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose
duplicity
Deceitfulness; double-dealing
belie
To give a false impression or to contradict by appearance
Master underhanded and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.