skulduggery

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'skulduggery' is an English word and it is used in written English.
It is a noun that means dishonest activity or trickery. Example sentence: His skulduggery in the company resulted in his termination.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, the initial figures for valid votes cast were surprisingly low given the long queues at polling-booths, and accusations of skulduggery are being traded all round.Shortly after the new president is known, a date should be set for parliamentary elections.

The Economist

Jolly enough, but relentless skulduggery did not help the empire's stability.

The Economist

One of the plans it has cooked up for Generali, a lacklustre Italian insurer (see article), has more to do with Italian political-economic skulduggery than with business logic, it seems.Italy's competition watchdog anyway suspects the bank of being a little too racy.

The Economist

They also served The wild bunch Handicapped The baseball-card bubble Only fools and horses The loneliness of Tony Blair ReprintsThe story of how London expanded so swiftly at the turn of the 20th century is one of financial ingenuity, bold risk-taking and low skulduggery.

The Economist

Take Lagos, the commercial capital, long a byword for chaos and skulduggery.

The Economist

Looking for laws ReprintsThe unit has now been called in to investigate more skulduggery in the ministry of public works, one of the biggest public-procurement departments, after a discovery that suppliers in cahoots with officials had been charging wildly inflated prices of up to four times the real costs.

The Economist

Most restrict themselves to the minutiae of local issues.The PRI still has a reputation for corruption and skulduggery.

The Economist

AFTER visiting his bank in Zurich, Jason Bourne, an amnesic assassin, wonders: "Who has a safety-deposit box full of money and six passports and a gun?" In the popular imagination as well as Hollywood films the answer is clear: customers of Swiss banks do.If this reputation for skulduggery is right, Switzerland, home to about one-quarter of the world's offshore money, is in big trouble.

The Economist

The notion that a little skulduggery was justified to keep a reforming government in office was this week distinctly a minority one.In this section Saving the children Rotten Rao Wahid battles on Votes for foreigners in Japan?

The Economist

The skulduggery has come to light in a new study of two murderesses, Margaret Higgins and her sister Catherine Flanagan, who were hanged in March 1884.Working-class 1884.Working-classhouseholdsl used to pay insuranorthremiums of a shiLiverpoolso a month (a few poused in today's money) to meet burial costs and the needs of those freshly widowed or orpayned.

The Economist

Most skulduggery took place while Gianni Alemanno, a former neo-fascist, was mayor.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skulduggery" to describe complex, often politically charged, underhanded dealings. It's more impactful than simply saying "dishonesty".

Common error

Don't use "skulduggery" for minor misdeeds. It implies a level of elaborate planning and deception, so reserve it for significant acts of trickery or fraud.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "skulduggery" is as a noun, typically used to describe or refer to underhanded or dishonest behavior. Ludwig AI confirms this, with numerous examples showcasing its use in describing various deceptive schemes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skulduggery" is a noun that refers to dishonest or unscrupulous behavior, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is used in a neutral to slightly formal register, primarily within news and media contexts to describe acts of deception and underhanded dealings. While it is often interchangeable with terms like "trickery" or "deceit", it conveys a sense of elaborate planning and significant wrongdoing. The Economist serves as a prominent source for its usage, highlighting its relevance in discussions of political and corporate misconduct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

double-dealing

Focuses on acting inconsistently or treacherously.

underhanded tactics

Emphasizes the unfair and secretive methods used.

unscrupulous behavior

Focuses on the lack of moral principles and ethical considerations.

deceitful practices

Focuses on the act of deceiving rather than the secretive nature.

illicit conduct

Highlights the unlawful and forbidden aspect of the behavior.

fraudulent schemes

Highlights the illegal and deceptive plans involved.

nefarious activities

Emphasizes the wickedness and evil nature of the actions.

Machiavellian schemes

Draws a parallel to the manipulative strategies described by Machiavelli.

dishonest dealings

Broader term referring to any untruthful or unethical business.

backstabbing

Implies betrayal and treachery against someone who trusts you.

FAQs

How can I use "skulduggery" in a sentence?

You can use "skulduggery" to describe dishonest or unscrupulous behavior, such as "The investigation uncovered a web of political skulduggery".

What are some alternatives to "skulduggery"?

Alternatives to "skulduggery" include "trickery", "deceit", or "underhanded tactics", depending on the specific context.

Is "skulduggery" formal or informal?

"Skulduggery" leans toward a slightly informal tone but is acceptable in many contexts, especially when describing political or corporate wrongdoings.

What's the difference between "skulduggery" and "corruption"?

"Skulduggery" refers more to the act of trickery and deceit, while "corruption" implies abuse of power or position. They can overlap, but "skulduggery" focuses on the deceptive methods used.