Words For Deceitful Behavior

verb to secretly plot or scheme, especially for a deceitful or illegal purpose

• The group of conspirators planned to connive against the king.
• I heard that Mark and Sarah are conniving to get a promotion at work.
• Don't trust him, he's always conniving behind people's backs.
• The dark clouds seemed to connive with the wind to create a storm.

noun deceitful or dishonest behavior; trickery or fraud

• The investigation uncovered a web of knavery within the company's financial department.
• I can't believe the level of knavery going on behind the scenes.
• That guy is always up to some knavery, I wouldn't trust him.
• His charming smile masked the knavery in his heart.

noun a South African slang term for a dishonest or untrustworthy person

• The police were able to apprehend the skelm who had been evading capture for months.
• I heard that guy is a real skelm, always up to no good.
• Don't trust that skelm, he's known for being sneaky and deceitful.
• In the world of politics, there are often skelms who manipulate situations for their own benefit.