shifty

play

adjective \ ˈshif-tē \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of shifty

shiftier; shiftiest

1 :full of or ready with expedients :resourceful

2 a :given to deception, evasion, or fraud :tricky

b :capable of evasive movement :elusive

a shifty boxer

3 :indicative of a tricky nature

shifty eyes

—

shiftily

play \ˈshif-tə-lē\ adverb

—

shiftiness

play \ˈshif-tē-nəs\ noun

See shifty defined for English-language learners

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Examples of shifty in a Sentence

shifty politicians making deals to channel federal funds into their districts
shifty practices such as turning back the odometers on used cars

Recent Examples of shifty from the Web

TRI-via The lean, shifty Corbett completely dominated the aging Sullivan, who arrived out of shape and couldn't keep up with the challenger.

— NOLA.com, "1892: A gentleman, a brawler and the New Orleans fight that reinvented boxing," 15 Aug. 2017
Louisville City coach James O'Connor brought in some reinforcements up front, with the burly Luke Spencer and the shifty and skilled on the ball Cameron Lancaster coming into the game.

— daniel karell, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville City FC falls 3-2 at home to rival FC Cincinnati in front of record crowd," 15 July 2017
That’s where Alford played in Super Bowl 51, against the league’s shiftiest slot receiver, Edelman.

— andy benoit, The MMQB, "pic.twitter.com/GWuJvRTLPY," 10 July 2017
Clint Eastwood played the handsome soldier in the 1971 film, and flashbacks in that version reveal him to be a shifty guy from the start.

— sandy cohen, Detroit Free Press, "Review: ‘Beguiled’ remake is stylish but its message is muddled," 28 June 2017
Hatteras Island's shifty, sandy shoreline—is often considered the pinnacle for fishing in the Outer Banks, and a hotbed for surfing and shelling, too.

— cassie shortsleeve, Condé Nast Traveler, "North Carolina Just Got a New Island," 27 June 2017
Racing in shifty breezes off Bermuda in front of a fleet of hundreds of spectator boats, the Kiwis were faster off the starting line in both races, leaping ahead on the early legs and maintaining comfortable leads around the course.

— aaron kuriloff, WSJ, "Team New Zealand Is on the Edge of Glory," 25 June 2017
Among forwards who could be available, Tippett is a natural scorer and excellent skater capable of throwing off opponents with shifty moves.

— helene st. james, Detroit Free Press, "Red Wings' goal in NHL draft: Boost defense, take best player at No. 9," 22 June 2017
Strengths: Combo guard with very good shooting mechanics and a quick release. ... Extremely reliable shooter with his feet set. ... Shifty and creative off the dribble. ...

— joe freeman, OregonLive.com, "Portland Trail Blazers NBA draft: Complete list of predraft visitors," 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shifty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.