underhanded
adjective, adverb, noun, verb
underhanded is spelled U-N-D-E-R-H-A-N-D-E-D: 11 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,192nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, underhanded means “Done by moving the hand (and arm) from below” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in underhanded?
| Letters | 11: U-N-D-E-R-H-A-N-D-E-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 54,192nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is underhanded?
Underhanded appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,192nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce underhanded?
- US
Underhanded has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-underhanded.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with underhanded
Also written: under-handed (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of underhanded
- more underhanded comparative
- most underhanded superlative
- under-handed
- the underhanded plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does underhanded mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Done by moving the hand (and arm) from below.
- 2
Sly, dishonest, corrupt, cheating.
His underhanded trick backfired and he was disqualified.
- 3
Insincere; sarcastic.
An underhanded compliment is actually criticism.
- 4
Secret; surreptitious.
- 5
Understaffed.
adverb
- 1
In an underhanded manner.
noun
- 1
Devious people, collectively.
verb
- 1
simple past and past participle of underhand
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Underhanded in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | hinterhältig, hinterlistig , sarkastisch , heimlich, verdeckt , unterbesetzt |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.