skullduggery
Group 8Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (noun)
- Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery GRE
Example in Context
The investigation revealed decades of financial skullduggery that had enriched executives at the expense of ordinary shareholders.
Synonyms
trickeryfrauddeception
Etymology
Digging into schemes with a head full of trickery and deceit.
- skull (English) — head
- duggery (Scottish) — to dig
Memory Aid
💀Sounds like “skull dug”
A skeleton wearing a pirate hat digging for treasure while sneering — it’s all SKULLDUGGERY!
Visual Association
⚓A pirate sneaking around in the shadows, plotting a sneaky heist.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “skullduggery” mean on the GRE?
skullduggery (noun) means “Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; trickery”. The investigation revealed decades of financial skullduggery that had enriched executives at the expense of ordinary shareholders.
How to remember “skullduggery” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “skullduggery” sounds like “skull dug”. A skeleton wearing a pirate hat digging for treasure while sneering — it’s all SKULLDUGGERY!
What are synonyms for “skullduggery”?
Common synonyms: trickery, fraud, deception.