Daniel Smith's opening score for the hosts was cancelled out by Bureta Faraimo, but the Giants took control through converted tries from Aaron Murphy and Jordan Rankin.

Danny Brough's drop-goal gave Huddersfield a 19-6 lead at the break.

Darnell McIntosh's second-half brace sealed the win, with Hakim Miloudi and Danny Houghton crossing in reply.

Huddersfield move up to seventh in the table with three games of the regular campaign remaining as Leeds Rhinos, who sacked head coach Brian McDermott on Monday, slip into the bottom four ahead of their trip to Castleford Tigers on Sunday.

The Giants outmuscled the Black and Whites' forwards throughout and were clinical when chances came their way, with McIntosh scoring twice on his 21st birthday.

Defeat at the John Smith's Stadium is a blow to Hull's hopes of a top-four finish as they failed to close the three-point gap to fourth-placed Castleford.

Huddersfield: Rankin, McGillvary, Gaskell, Wardle, McIntosh, Turner, Brough, Ta'ai, O'Brien, Lawrence, Mellor, Murphy, Smith.

Replacements: Ikahihifo, Hinchcliffe, Roberts, Clough.

Hull FC: Miloudi, Faraimo, Scott, Tuimavave, Logan, Kelly, Connor, Paea, Houghton, Taylor, Hadley, Minichiello, Green.

Replacements: Washbrook, Fash, Downs, Matongo.