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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dodgy
And the point where things could start getting dodgy isn’t too far away.
—
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
But thanks to mad scientist and some dodgy experimentation, there is a harry creature on the loose, threatening to ruin the party.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
This cat grew up in the dodgy Leith highrises.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
To be sure, there is some research to indicate that these unauthorized streams will bombard you with pop-up ads for dodgy gambling sites and crypto scams.
—Olivia Solon, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
But thanks to mad scientist and some dodgy experimentation, there is a harry creature on the loose, threatening to ruin the party.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
This cat grew up in the dodgy Leith highrises.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
To be sure, there is some research to indicate that these unauthorized streams will bombard you with pop-up ads for dodgy gambling sites and crypto scams.
—Olivia Solon, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dodgy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dodgy
Adjective
-
The Aces scored 26 points off those giveaways, which made things even more difficult on the defense.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Schiraldi oversaw a particularly difficult period on Rikers.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
-
As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On the one hand, background checks and psychological evaluations could help weed out individuals with questionable motives.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The owners of the now-shuttered West Suburban Medical Center faced off in court Friday over the hospital’s future, amid accusations of mismanagement and questionable fund transfers.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Walter, who had left the Progressive Labor Party, didn’t preach Marxism to his son, but Riley embraced a radical-left viewpoint on his own, after tagging along with some cute older girls who were participating in a cannery workers’ strike.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
He's described as being cute, with chin-length dark hair, dimples and a diamond stud in one ear.—
Jennifer McClellan,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lepoutre said Chapiron’s project is inspired by real cases in France involving young women who set themselves up as informal practitioners, offering discounted Botox and injections with dubious products.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
The administration, though, is gearing up to unleash a slew of other levies under the auspices of a different law that many experts see as less legally dubious than the 10% tariff and the ones the Supreme Court reversed.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The film opens with its shy, sensitive twentysomething protagonist, Bear, struggling to confess his feelings for his childhood friend, Nikki.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Under Xi's predecessor, Hu Jintao, China was more focused on economic integration and more sensitive to its international reputation, said Genser, who helped win another activist's freedom in 2007.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Barca supporters were already cheering each pass by the 20th minute, having gone 2-0 up through a brilliant Marcus Rashford free kick and a slick move finished off by Ferran Torres.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
George, the birthday boy beside her, stuck to his own slick style, wearing a black polo top, off-white pants with a beige belt, and sand suede loafers.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dodgy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dodgy. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
