1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
getting the trade unions to go along with the agreement will be a rather dodgy piece of work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
needed a dodgy barrister to get him acquitted of the charge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the authenticity of the "lost" Shakespearean sonnet was more than a little dodgy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of dodgy
The diner, Sweet Emily’s, is on the same dodgy street as Lee’s store, Hoot Owls Books.
—
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Whatever, Dever quickly recanted her earlier precise testimony to the FBI about the sinister doings by those two dodgy cops behind Karen Read’s SUV.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Workers encourage customers not to abandon ship, but to ask Powell’s about their dodgier policies, and celebrate their good ones.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
The rapport between these two veteran actors turn what could have been seriously dodgy caricatures into a first-rate double act — think Abbott and Costello with sidecurls and silencers.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
Whatever, Dever quickly recanted her earlier precise testimony to the FBI about the sinister doings by those two dodgy cops behind Karen Read’s SUV.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Workers encourage customers not to abandon ship, but to ask Powell’s about their dodgier policies, and celebrate their good ones.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
The rapport between these two veteran actors turn what could have been seriously dodgy caricatures into a first-rate double act — think Abbott and Costello with sidecurls and silencers.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodgy
Adjective
-
Cue, Helm’s first rejection, abandonment, difficult emotions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
This character was actually quite difficult for me.—
Gavin J Blair,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Austin Reaves, who also missed Monday’s game, is listed as questionable, while LeBron James, Maxi Kleber, Adou Thiero, and Gabe Vincent remain out.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The extent of the President's potential influence with New Yorkers in Cuomo's uphill battle with Mamdani is questionable.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Fall travel season is here, and my suitcase is officially in its comfy-but-cute era.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Shoppers call out the cute and functional design.—
Kim Grundy,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But all of that assumes that a putsch does succeed, and this is dubious.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Also, the father in the book is a screenwriter, opening the door for sharp commentary on Hollywood and its dubious attempts at on-screen representation.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Some people experience tactile allodynia, which happens when the central nervous system becomes extra sensitive to things that touch your skin.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Still, employees have also been left wondering why the moves needed to take place when so many employees remained furloughed and unaware of how sensitive hardware was being handled.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The slick lobby was guarded by uniformed doormen and the elevator took me to a long polished corridor leading to a big mahogany door.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But Ratanaruang’s most essential collaborator is, again, Doyle, who uses desaturated 16mm to evoke Sao’s past and slick digital cinematography to capture her present.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodgy. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share