fishy

adjective

ˈfi-shē 

fishier; fishiest

1

: of or resembling fish especially in taste or odor

2

: creating doubt or suspicion : questionable

Synonyms

• questionable
• dubious
• suspicious
• disputable
• problematical
• problematic
• doubtful
• suspect
• debatable

Examples of fishy in a Sentence

There's something fishy about that guy.

something's fishy about the way he's acting

Recent Examples on the Web

Stirred with a little garlic, butter and fishy bonito flakes, everything but the skin of the squash is served with the cavatelli and topped with anchovies, lemon zest and drizzled herb oil that add acidity and fragrance to the savory sauce. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025

Well, four reactors at a nuclear power plant in France had to be shut down over the weekend due to some fishy circumstances. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

China’s global research agenda has some fishy findings. —Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

Since the meat is coarse and overly fishy, there was no good market for bull reds. —Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fishy

adjective

ˈfish-ē 

fishier; fishiest

1

: of, relating to, or resembling fish

a fishy odor

2

: arousing doubt or suspicion : questionable

the story sounds fishy to me