shady

adjective

ˈshā-dē 

shadier; shadiest

1

: producing or affording shade

2

: sheltered from the sun's rays

3

a

: of questionable merit : uncertain, unreliable

b

: disreputable

shadily

ˈshā-də-lē 

adverb

shadiness

ˈshā-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of shady

• shaded
• shadowy
• shadowed
• sheltered
• darkened

Examples of shady in a Sentence

Their backyard is nice and shady.

I don't trust him. He seems like a pretty shady character.

Recent Examples on the Web

For shady slopes, this evergreen, herbaceous perennial with striking yellow blooms makes excellent groundcover under trees. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026

The massive trees had long been a home for rare species and a shady place for neighbors to gather. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

During his visit to Days, Oliver’s character will also take a meeting with Salem mayor Pauline Price (played by sitcom legend Jackée Harry) and confront the shady EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) about a criminal cover-up. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

The union’s pension fund was treated in ways that prioritized other uses of the money (lending money to certain shady groups to open casinos). — Sheila Weinberg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shady

• cady
• lady
• zaidi
• arcady
• landlady

Kids Definition

shady

adjective

ˈshād-ē 

shadier; shadiest

1

: casting a shadow : giving shade

2

: sheltered from the sun's rays

a shady grove

3

: not right or honest

a shady business deal

shadily

ˈshād-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

shadiness

ˈshād-ē-nəs 

noun