skulduggery
Devious behind-scenes maneuvering
Skulduggery is underhanded or unscrupulous behavior—trickery, scheming, or devious dealings: corporate skulduggery, political skulduggery.
The word suggests cunning rather than violence, carrying a slightly theatrical quality that makes it useful for describing shady dealings with a touch of dark humor: What skulduggery are you two plotting?
Also spelled skullduggery.
Disposition toward falsehood
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
misrepresentation · falsification · prevarication · dissembling · perfidy · treachery · double-dealing · two-faced
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
cunning · crafty · devious · designs · mastermind · intriguer · manipulator · schemer
Storyline or land parcel
- cabalScheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
cloak-and-dagger · treason · sedition · clandestine · machination · insurrection · subversion · moles
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
- feintDeceptive mock attack
sleight · flimflam · bamboozle · hoodwink · shenanigans · jiggery-pokery · fakery · gimmick
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
hoax · phishing · extortion · bribery · kickback · racketeering · corruption · grift
dishonesty
Disposition toward falsehood
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
artifice · misrepresentation · falsification · prevarication · dissembling · perfidy · treachery · double-dealing · two-faced · lying
plotting
Devising a secret plan
- connivingSecretly planning wrongdoing
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
calculating · cunning · crafty · devious · designs · mastermind · intriguer · manipulator · schemer · wheeler-dealer
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- cabalScheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
espionage · cloak-and-dagger · treason · sedition · clandestine · machination · insurrection · subversion · moles · spies
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
feint · sleight · flimflam · bamboozle · hoodwink · shenanigans · jiggery-pokery · fakery · gimmick · masquerade
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
counterfeit · hoax · phishing · extortion · bribery · kickback · racketeering · corruption · grift · con-artist
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
- happeningshappenings, happening, event, occurrence, events
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- secret meetingsclandestine meeting, secret society, rendezvous, conclave, cabal
skulduggeryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · probity · uprightness · rectitude · honor
skulduggeryforthrightness
Quality of being direct
candor · directness · openness · straightforwardness · frankness
skulduggerysimplicity
Lack of complexity
straightforwardness · naivety · innocence · unsophistication · directness