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Definition of skullduggery

skullduggery

/ˌskʌlˈdʌɡ.ər.i/
(UK: skulduggery)
skull · dug · ger · y
Plural:skullduggeries
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skullduggery Lexical Profile

skullduggery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Underhanded, unscrupulous, or dishonest behavior and trickery; crafty machinations or deviousness.

Example

"The investigative journalist uncovered years of financial skullduggery hidden within the corporation's offshore accounts."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for skullduggery
Antonyms
View all antonyms for skullduggery

Word Nuance & Usage

Also commonly spelled "skulduggery" (especially in British English), the word often carries a slightly dramatic, old-fashioned, or playfully disapproving tone rather than referring to severe violent crime.

• Rhymes for skullduggery

• Nearby Words

skulk
skull
skullcap
skullduggery
skully
skunk
skunk botia

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in mid-19th-century American English, the word is an alteration of the earlier Scottish term "sculduddery" (meaning grossness, obscenity, or underhandedness), whose ultimate origin remains uncertain.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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