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Definition of skulduggery

skulduggery

/ˌskʌlˈdʌɡ.ər.i/
skul · dug · ger · y
Plural:skulduggeries
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skulduggery Lexical Profile

skulduggery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Underhanded, unscrupulous, or dishonest behavior and trickery.

Example

"The investigative journalist uncovered evidence of financial skulduggery within the local council."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for skulduggery
Antonyms
View all antonyms for skulduggery

Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled "skulduggery" in British English and often "skullduggery" in American English, though the word has no etymological connection to "skull".

• Rhymes for skulduggery

• Nearby Words

skradinski buk
skrikjofossen
skua
skulduggery
skulk
skull
skullcap

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in 19th-century American English, it is an alteration of the older Scottish dialect term "sculduddery," which originally referred to obscenity or illicit behavior.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Skulduggery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/skulduggery
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