shifty

adjective

\ ˈshif-tē

shiftier; shiftiest

Definition of shifty

1 : full of or ready with expedients : resourceful

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

b : capable of evasive movement : elusive a shifty boxer

3 : indicative of a tricky nature shifty eyes

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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 on the Web

Among those also showing interest in the 5-foot-10, 200-pound shifty runner were Louisville, Cincinnati, Toledo, Western Michigan and Akron. — Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, "Lakota West running back David Afari commits to Miami RedHawks football," 28 June 2019 Waters is a shifty guard who is a tremendous passer out of pick and roll. — Amie Just, nola.com, "LSU guard Tremont Waters selected as No. 51 pick by Boston Celtics," 20 June 2019 The Bruins have the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Zdeno Chara on their defense, but outside of him, their lineup is smaller and shiftier than St. Louis'. — Isabelle Khurshudyan, courant.com, "Stanley Cup Final shows there’s still room for ‘heavy’ hockey in NHL," 4 June 2019 The player, however, who stood out most for the Bulls was shifty slot back Nathaniel Noel, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound playmaker who ran circles around opposing teams. — Chris Hays, orlandosentinel.com, "Miami Northwestern wins UCF 7 on 7 tournament," 3 June 2019 Swain is cuddly and cute, and has swooningly palpable chemistry with a handsome, shifty love interest played by Dyllon Burnside. — Richard Lawson, HWD, "Pose Is Bold, Necessary Melodrama," 30 May 2018 There’s something shifty about the newcomer, Victor Shubin, what with his ashy skin and creepy way of looking at Jake’s mom, who never remarried after her husband, the boy’s father, disappeared during World War II. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, "Children’s Books: The Travails and Triumphs of Derring-Do," 22 Feb. 2019 Set in the 1960s and '70s, Hugh Grant is devilishly twisted as Jeremy Thorpe, the Liberal Party's leader in Parliament, who tries to cover up his secret affair with a shifty, obsessive young man named Norman Josiffe (Ben Whishaw). — Hank Stuever, chicagotribune.com, "'Sharp Objects,' 'Yellowstone' and other new shows worth a look this summer," 14 June 2018 History is littered with small, shifty receivers who never caught a pass in pro football. — Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Star, "Colts' new offensive coordinator gets T.Y. Hilton crash course," 13 June 2018

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.