Underhanded

Characterized by secrecy, deception, and a lack of fairness; done in a sly or underhand manner to gain an advantage, often involving unethical or dishonest methods. It implies a hidden agenda and a willingness to manipulate or exploit others for personal gain. This behavior often causes distrust and resentment due to its duplicitous nature, masking true intentions and actions.

Underhanded meaning with examples

• The company's underhanded tactics, like spreading false rumors about their competitor, ultimately backfired, leading to consumer distrust and financial repercussions. This led to the loss of investor confidence and public scorn.
• Suspecting underhanded dealings, the detective meticulously investigated the politician's finances, uncovering a trail of bribery and corruption, implicating several officials in the process.
• Their underhanded negotiation strategy involved withholding crucial information, a calculated move designed to exploit their opponent's ignorance and secure a favorable agreement that would leave their rivals vulnerable.
• The witness revealed that the scheme involved underhanded methods of influencing jury members. This blatant disregard for legal procedure undermined the justice system's foundations and challenged its integrity.
• In the game, the character used an underhanded strategy with traps to trick the other player in to the death to claim his victory, it went to the extreme, leading to controversy.