skulduggery
A devious device or trickA devious device or trick.
» This kind of partisan skulduggery has no place in a government agency.
Meaning
2 senses(countable)A devious device or trick.
Mauschelei, Hinterlist
надува́тельствоnaduvátelʹstvo, моше́нничествоmošénničestvo, жу́льничествоžúlʹničestvo
(uncountable)Dishonest, underhanded, or unscrupulous activities or behaviour.
- verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
Examples
1 sentencesThis kind of partisan skulduggery has no place in a government agency.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
An alteration of Scots sculduddery, sculdudrie (“adultery, unchaste behaviour; obscenity,An alteration of Scots sculduddery, sculdudrie (“adultery, unchaste behaviour; obscenity, lewdness”), of long-uncertain origin (probably a euphemism). Relation to skull is speculative at best and likely folk etymology. The American spelling skullduggery is in keeping with terms such as skillful and willful.
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Forms
plural: skulduggeriesSynonyms
13 synonyms- verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way:trickeryhocus-pocusslicknesshanky pankyjiggery-pokeryskullduggery
Antonyms
2 antonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable