shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē 

shiftier; shiftiest

1

: full of or ready with expedients : resourceful

2

a

: given to deception, evasion, or fraud : tricky

b

: capable of evasive movement : elusive

a shifty boxer

3

: indicative of a tricky nature

shifty eyes

shiftily

ˈshif-tə-lē 

adverb

shiftiness

ˈshif-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• furtive
• shady
• slippery
• sly
• sneaking
• sneaky
• stealthy

Examples of shifty in a Sentence

shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts

shifty practices such as turning back the odometers on used cars

Recent Examples on the Web

If the defender gets caught on the brush screen during the exchange, that could put a switch defender in a tricky situation trying to stay in front of the shifty Fox. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

More and more teams are finding a need for smaller, shiftier players like Flowers. —Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē 

shiftier; shiftiest

1

: not worthy of trust : tricky

2

: indicating a tricky character

shifty eyes

shiftily

-tə-lē 

adverb

shiftiness

-tē-nəs 

noun