underhandedness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˌʌndɚˈhændɪdnəs/ UK /ˌʌndəˈhændɪdnəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the quality of being secretive, sly, or deceitful

His underhandedness in the deal cost him every ally he had.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the quality of being... deceit slynessdeviousnesstrickery duplicity cunning

Opposites

honesty candor opennessstraightforwardness

Word family

Related forms underhanded underhand hand

Etymology

From underhanded (under- + hand + -ed) + -ness. The figurative sense of 'secret, sly' derives from the literal notion of a movement made with the hand kept low and concealed.

-ness Old English under Old English hand Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# underhandedness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌʌndɚˈhændɪdnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌʌndəˈhændɪdnəs/

## Meanings
1. the quality of being secretive, sly, or deceitful

## Examples
- His underhandedness in the deal cost him every ally he had.

## Synonyms
- deceit
- slyness
- deviousness
- trickery
- duplicity
- cunning

## Antonyms
- honesty
- candor
- openness
- straightforwardness

## Related Forms
- underhanded
- underhand
- hand

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: -ness
- Root: under
- Root: hand

## Etymology
From underhanded (under- + hand + -ed) + -ness. The figurative sense of 'secret, sly' derives from the literal notion of a movement made with the hand kept low and concealed.

## AI Etymology
Underhandedness is from underhanded (under- + hand + -ed) + -ness. The figurative sense of 'secret, sly' derives from the literal notion of a movement made with the hand kept low and concealed. Important recorded forms include -ness (Old English), under (Old English), and hand (Old English). Morphologically, the under- element contributes the sense of beneath, lower rank, concealment, or insufficiency, depending on the base it modifies. The semantic development is already visible in the history: an older concrete or specialized use was extended into the modern meaning rather than replaced by a separate origin. In current use it covers the quality of being secretive, sly, or deceitful. The wider family includes related words such as underhanded, underhand, and hand.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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