shadier; shadiest
Synonyms of shadynext
1
: producing or affording shade
2
: sheltered from the sun's rays
3
a
: of questionable merit : uncertain, unreliable
shadily adverb
shadiness noun

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
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.
The ivy might begin to flag in the heat, so plan to remove it (or at least relocate it to the shady side of the container) before temperatures begin climbing. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026 Influenced by rock stars like Mick Jagger, Gortner used his charisma to make a killing on the revivalist circuit, with the doc deftly exploring how for-profit religious figures use shady manipulation tactics. Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026 And there’s working with people who are not exactly palatable, but who have significant sway in the region—like Dan Gertler, a billionaire Israeli businessman whose name has long been a byword for shady deals in Congo. Nicolas Niarchos, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026 Some are worried about the long shadow the building would cast on the beaches below, with one resident saying during public comment that Sunny Isles Beach may soon be more shady than sunny. Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shady

Word History

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shady was in 1579

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Cite this Entry

“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shady. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

shady

adjective
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 adverb
shadiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shady

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