sneaky

1 of 2

adjective

ˈsnē-kē 

sneakier; sneakiest

: marked by stealth, furtiveness, or shiftiness

a sneaky trick

sneakily

ˈsnē-kə-lē 

adverb

sneakiness

ˈsnē-kē-nəs 

noun

sneakiness

2 of 2

noun

sneak·​i·​ness -kēnə̇s 

-kin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being sneaky

Synonyms of sneaky

Adjective

• shady
• sly
• stealthy

Examples of sneaky in a Sentence

Adjective

They make it look like you're getting a lot more than you really are. It's a sneaky trick.

It's a sneaky way of getting people to buy something they don't need.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Just take his February fall collection, which mashed up decades of American glamour with a sneaky British twinge. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026

The particularly sneaky thing in this tableau is the slices of cake sitting on a tray table. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

That said, the researchers see the 32% average higher spend as a clear outcome and an opportunity for retailers, whether the extra spending was driven by sneaky nudging or by AI helping consumers shop smarter. — New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026

This recipe has a few sneaky tricks that Grandma loves to keep secret. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1833, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sneaky

• cheeky
• creaky
• freaky
• kiki
• leaky
• squeaky
• streaky

Kids Definition

sneaky

adjective

ˈsnē-kē 

sneakier; sneakiest

1

: behaving in a sly or secret manner

2

: marked by secrecy or slyness

a sneaky trick

sneakily

-kə-lē 

adverb

sneakiness

-kē-nəs 

noun