What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
secretitious
Example
The spy made a secretitious exchange of information with his contact. [secretitious: adjective]
Example
She tried to be secretitious about her plans to surprise her friend. [secretitious: adverb]
underhanded
Example
He used underhanded tactics to win the game. [underhanded: adjective]
Example
She felt guilty about her underhanded behavior towards her colleague. [underhanded: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Underhanded is more commonly used than secretitious in everyday language. However, both words are relatively uncommon and may not be familiar to beginner ESL learners.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between secretitious and underhanded?
Secretitious is more formal than underhanded, and is often used in legal or academic contexts. Underhanded is more informal and is commonly used in casual conversation.
