as in skullduggery
the use of clever underhanded actions to achieve an end
had to resort to a certain amount of hanky-panky to sneak away from the house without his dog seeing him
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Recent Examples of hanky-panky
But there was no hanky-panky, and in fact the two couples had dinner together every week for two years after Dirty Dancing wrapped.
—
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
On my ride with Boaz and Javadi, a Waymo operator suddenly joined us on the audio system, not to inform us that hanky-panky is prohibited, but to say that two passengers did not have their seat belts fastened.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Any outlier hanky-panky effort by Republicans would be enjoined by the courts based upon solid precedent.
—Jerry Goldfeder, New York Daily News, 24 July 2024
No hanky-panky, no name calling, no twisting of truths, no bull.
—Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Our inescapable conclusion is that the target of this pitch is being snowed by an acquaintance hoping to climb out of the friend zone for a bout of hanky-panky before moving on.
—Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
On my ride with Boaz and Javadi, a Waymo operator suddenly joined us on the audio system, not to inform us that hanky-panky is prohibited, but to say that two passengers did not have their seat belts fastened.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024
Any outlier hanky-panky effort by Republicans would be enjoined by the courts based upon solid precedent.
—Jerry Goldfeder, New York Daily News, 24 July 2024
No hanky-panky, no name calling, no twisting of truths, no bull.
—Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024
Our inescapable conclusion is that the target of this pitch is being snowed by an acquaintance hoping to climb out of the friend zone for a bout of hanky-panky before moving on.
—Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanky-panky
Noun
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This democratization of deception tools means threats can come from anywhere—disgruntled employees, competitors or opportunistic individuals—not just sophisticated state actors or cybercrime rings.Joseph Ours, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Langenberg’s sharp slider and 92-94 mph fastball lead a five-pitch mix, and his low arm slot adds some deception.Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In an era rife with conspiracy theories and subterfuge, how much of those forces are products of our own doing, perhaps our imagining?Dana Feldman, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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The story that follows includes intense political subterfuge, villainous monologues, and heart-wrenching character deaths.Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, TIME, 18 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Obviously, such a system is rife with uncertainty, and the history of the process is full of skulduggery, both on the club and player side.Tony Blengino, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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Climax became the first ever vegan cheesemaker to win a prestigious Good Food award—though dairy complaints caused the prize to be rescinded at the last minute, with shades of the protectionist, legal skulduggery faced by non-dairy milk products.Andrew Rosenblum, Popular Science, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
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There’s still a lot of baseball chicanery to take place over the next few months, though.Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 18 July 2024
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The eternal fight for liberty — slaves into gladiators, gladiators into free men — calls for courage and purpose beyond Lucius’s nightmarish expectations, uncovering the treachery and chicanery of Roman politics.Armond White, National Review, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Welcome back for another season full of [Alan Cumming voice] deception, backstabbing and treachery!Nick Caruso, TVLine, 9 Jan. 2025
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Yet Milady and her treachery have for nearly 200 years always stood out.Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Featuring a brand new cast of reality television’s best and most conniving, the U.S. version of Peacock’s hit game show returns on January 9 for more challenges, trickery, and impeccable outfits from host Cumming.Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Nov. 2024
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Background/foreground blur and other in-camera trickery are used to great effect.Scott Phillips, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This is political gamesmanship at its worst, planting a trap for lawmakers by exploiting a tragedy.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
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Is there a difference between cheating and gamesmanship?Alan Shearer, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Importance of Pay Transparency in the Civilian Sector While legislation promoting pay transparency continues to expand throughout the U.S., some organizations still maintain pay secrecy.Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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After a series of Miami Herald exposés — probing his secrecy involving travel itineraries, law clients, side jobs, expensive gifts and advocacy on behalf of the Saudi regime — Mayor Francis Suarez, son of a former mayor, is facing calls to resign.Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hanky-panky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanky-panky. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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