sneaky

adjective

ˈsnē-kē 

sneakier; sneakiest

: marked by stealth, furtiveness, or shiftiness

a sneaky trick

sneakily

ˈsnē-kə-lē 

adverb

sneakiness

ˈsnē-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of sneaky

• shady
• sly
• stealthy

Examples of sneaky in a Sentence

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

Use them on your luggage, backpack, purse, or fanny pack to prevent sneaky pickpockets from slipping their fingers inside. — Joel Balsam, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2026

Fall is finally here — and the must-have shoe brand for cold weather is celebrating with a sneaky sale. — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026

Walmart tends to slide in some sneaky deals as the year goes on, so stay tuned for any new updates to their iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max promotions. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

Morris contributed a logical note to sneaky goings-on, and Lupus made his silent bit seem credible. — Ed Olmstead, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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