shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē 

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

ˈshif-tə-lē 

adverb

shiftiness

ˈshif-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of shifty

• shady
• sneaky

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 on the Web

The shifty guard has grown into one of the NBA's most effective scorers and playmakers, increasing his scoring average in every season of his five-year career. — CBS News, 24 June 2026

Okorie, who won’t turn 20 until April, will offer a shifty skill set not many players possess on Detroit’s bench. — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 24 June 2026

It’s been a big offseason for the dynamic receiver, a shifty route runner who’s not the biggest guy, at 6-foot and165 pounds, but his ball skills are elite. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2026

Catalina suffers from an unspecified mental disability, which Saavedra, who is not handicapped, performs in an arguably inappropriate register of fidgety hands and shifty-eyed glances. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shifty

• fifty
• nifty
• thrifty
• unthrifty

Kids Definition

shifty

adjective

ˈshif-tē 

shiftier; shiftiest

1

: not worthy of trust : tricky

2

: indicating a tricky character

shifty eyes

shiftily

-tə-lē 

adverb

shiftiness

-tē-nəs 

noun