skullduggery
Sneaky dishonest behavior
Skullduggery is underhanded or dishonest behavior, especially scheming or trickery meant to deceive.
The word suggests cunning and secretive dealings rather than outright criminality—more backroom manipulation than violent crime.
The investigation revealed years of financial skullduggery at the company.
Political skullduggery kept the opposition candidate off the ballot.
The spelling skulduggery, without the first l, is equally acceptable.
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
ploy · gambit · feint · stratagem · wile · duplicity · cunning · craftiness
Mischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- monkey businessDeceitful or frivolous conduct
- hanky-pankyDeceptive or amorous mischief
- funny businessDeceptive or mischievous conduct
hijinks · tricks · pranks · antics · roguery · devilry · skulking · shady dealings
Dishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
sham · charlatan · fraudster · con artist · impersonation · phishing · flimflam · pyramid scheme
Storyline or land parcel
- cabalScheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
- machinationCrafty scheming, often hostile
sedition · treason · subversion · infiltration · conspirator · complicity · cloak-and-dagger · covert
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- extortionObtaining through threats
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
- graftIllicit political gain
kickback · cronyism · nepotism · money laundering · slush fund · payoff · patronage · influence peddling
guile
Sly, strategic dishonesty
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
ruse · ploy · gambit · feint · stratagem · wile · duplicity · cunning · craftiness · sleight
shenanigans
Mischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- monkey businessDeceitful or frivolous conduct
- hanky-pankyDeceptive or amorous mischief
funny business · hijinks · tricks · pranks · antics · roguery · devilry · skulking · shady dealings · underhanded
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
hoax · sham · charlatan · fraudster · con artist · impersonation · phishing · flimflam · pyramid scheme · grift
plot
Storyline or land parcel
- cabalScheming political faction
- collusionFraudulent secret cooperation
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
machination · sedition · treason · subversion · infiltration · conspirator · complicity · cloak-and-dagger · covert · clandestine
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- extortionObtaining through threats
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
graft · kickback · cronyism · nepotism · money laundering · slush fund · payoff · patronage · influence peddling · backroom deal
- American slangbamboozle, bogus, bunkum, conniption, discombobulate
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- Whimsy Wordsgobbledygook, gibberish, mumbo jumbo, hogwash, balderdash
skullduggeryhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · forthrightness · straightforwardness · candor · transparency
skullduggerypropriety
Correctness of conduct
legitimacy · lawfulness · due process · fair play · ethical conduct