Definition of SKULDUGGERY

skulduggery

Plural: skulduggeries

Noun

  • verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way
  • A devious device or trick.
  • Dishonest, underhanded, or unscrupulous activities or behaviour.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Synonyms

hanky panky, hocus-pocus, jiggery-pokery, skullduggery, slickness, trickery, dishonesty, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, thugduggery, underhandedness, unscrupulousness

Antonyms

honesty, probity

Scrabble Score: 21

skulduggery: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
skulduggery: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
skulduggery: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 25

skulduggery: valid Words With Friends Word