shakier; shakiest
1
: characterized by shakes
shaky timber
2
a
: lacking stability : precarious
a shaky economy
performed well after a shaky start
b
: lacking in firmness (as of beliefs or principles)
c
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky experimental procedures
shaky data
3
a
: somewhat unsound in health
b
: characterized by shaking
4
: likely to give way or break down
Examples of shaky in a Sentence
She took a few shaky steps before she collapsed.
Her commitment to the cause seems shaky.
Their marriage is on shaky ground.
The team has performed better lately after getting off to a shaky start.
Recent Examples on the Web
With rising tuition, heavy student debt, and a shaky job market, more young workers are rethinking the four-year degree and turning to faster and cheaper routes to a steady career.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The Cowboys’ financial investment must increase, however, and the school’s leadership has spent some of this year on somewhat shaky ground.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Anthony Banda took care of the eighth, and Roki Sasaki regained his mojo, after a shaky outing in Game 1 in Milwaukee, with a 1-2-3 ninth.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
That meant the Dodgers needed 10 outs from their shaky bullpen.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preston Fore, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
The Cowboys’ financial investment must increase, however, and the school’s leadership has spent some of this year on somewhat shaky ground.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Anthony Banda took care of the eighth, and Roki Sasaki regained his mojo, after a shaky outing in Game 1 in Milwaukee, with a 1-2-3 ninth.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
That meant the Dodgers needed 10 outs from their shaky bullpen.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
Cite this Entry
“Shaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaky. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shaky
adjective
shakier; shakiest
1
a
: lacking firmness
b
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky data
2
: marked by shaking : trembling
3
: likely to give way or break down
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share