1
as in difficult
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
getting the trade unions to go along with the agreement will be a rather dodgy piece of work
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
needed a dodgy barrister to get him acquitted of the charge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the authenticity of the "lost" Shakespearean sonnet was more than a little dodgy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dodgy
Greenstein and Goldberg tried — and failed — to dissuade their boss from giving Will Smith and his company Westbrook an overall deal with the studio, arguing that the Oscar-slap controversy and a dodgy box office track record would result in more headaches than hits.
—
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
The business is, and has always been, a dodgy boondoggle; not for nothing were the old-money WASPs at the East Coast banks reticent to put capital behind fledgling Hollywood.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The emails were the last straw for the House of Windsor after years of tawdry headlines about Andrew’s dodgy friends and suspicious business deals.
—CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
The diner, Sweet Emily’s, is on the same dodgy street as Lee’s store, Hoot Owls Books.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
The business is, and has always been, a dodgy boondoggle; not for nothing were the old-money WASPs at the East Coast banks reticent to put capital behind fledgling Hollywood.
—Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The emails were the last straw for the House of Windsor after years of tawdry headlines about Andrew’s dodgy friends and suspicious business deals.
—CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
The diner, Sweet Emily’s, is on the same dodgy street as Lee’s store, Hoot Owls Books.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodgy
Adjective
-
Mascherano said his second-half lineup change was a difficult one to make.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The winners said the warmer-than-normal conditions made a challenging course even more difficult.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
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So says Catherine de Medici (Samantha Morton), the cunning Queen of France, in this sinfully delicious historical drama.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
James, who played after initially being listed as questionable because of arthritis in his left foot, scored 24 points in 27 minutes on eight-for-15 shooting.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
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These false or misleading statements are characteristic of politicians with questionable integrity who are willing to say anything for political gain.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Heat’s climb to get out of the play-in tournament this season just got tougher.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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Regulation overseas may be a tougher sell.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are a few unexpected gems, such as Loungefly, Pacsun, and Hot Topic, which also have cute offerings.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
27 Feb. 2026
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Scroll to shop and add these cute shoes to your cart while deals are up to 60 percent off.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Still, many Hungarians are dubious of Orban’s anti-Ukraine messaging.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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As reviewers have noted, the engine of her Wuthering Heights is not emotion or plot but rather the whiplash created by audiovisual juxtapositions—most of which project the dubious theory that Victorian social rules were equivalent to BDSM.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Calming Medicinal Botanicals Korean insiders know that soothing ingredients such as mugwort extract and Centella asiatica (commonly referred to as cica) still reign supreme in K-Beauty to help treat inflamed or sensitive skin.—
Charlotte Cho,
Allure,
1 Mar. 2026
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That insight, relayed to Israeli counterparts, accelerated the timeline for a strike to capitalize on the opportunity, the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters, told CBS News.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This deception is slicker than a greased pig!—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
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Texas starter Luke Harrison pitched a second successive scoreless frame, working around a leadoff walk with the help of a slick stop by Adrian Rodriguez at shortstop.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodgy. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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