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

• 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

And Kimmel’s unprecedented defenestration joins a wave of cultural clampdown that crested earlier this year, when Colbert got the shady can from his parent company, likely for mocking the President. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025

Fake stores, phishing scams, and shady links can put your data at risk. —Kurt Knutsson May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links., FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025

But what is Canada, if not a shady land deal? —Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

Batteries or pumped hydro (or flywheel or gravity systems) will need to store the excess power and fill the gaps for those shady days. —Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

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