shakier; shakiest
1
: characterized by shakes
shaky timber
2
a
: lacking stability : precarious
a shaky economy
performed well after a shaky start
b
: lacking in firmness (as of beliefs or principles)
c
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky experimental procedures
shaky data
3
a
: somewhat unsound in health
b
: characterized by shaking
4
: likely to give way or break down
Examples of shaky in a Sentence
She took a few shaky steps before she collapsed.
Her commitment to the cause seems shaky.
Their marriage is on shaky ground.
The team has performed better lately after getting off to a shaky start.
Recent Examples on the Web
Quarterback Carson Beck bounced back from his shaky outing against Florida by completing 20 of 27 passes for 241 yards and four touchdowns.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Goaltending can make or break a team’s season, and the Sabres enter the year with a shaky situation in net.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Taking a litigious stance can also risk damaging an already-shaky relationship.
—Nicole Chung, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Yet consumers on the ground are looking increasingly shaky, pushing confidence barometers into unhealthy territory.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
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.
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Goaltending can make or break a team’s season, and the Sabres enter the year with a shaky situation in net.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Taking a litigious stance can also risk damaging an already-shaky relationship.
—Nicole Chung, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
Yet consumers on the ground are looking increasingly shaky, pushing confidence barometers into unhealthy territory.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shaky
Cite this Entry
“Shaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shaky. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shaky
adjective
shakier; shakiest
1
a
: lacking firmness
b
: lacking in authority or reliability : questionable
shaky data
2
: marked by shaking : trembling
3
: likely to give way or break down
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share