1
as in shaded
protected from the sun's rays
a lovely shady spot in the park that was pleasantly cool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
a shady business deal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in questionable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
cited some shady statistics to back up his argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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4
as in shifty
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
shady characters hanging out in the park after nightfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in notorious
not respectable
a courtesan who lived on the shady fringe of society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shady
In a climate rife with conspiracy theories and baseless (and sometimes dangerous) social media trends, the line between true and false, substantiated and shady, can seem increasingly blurry—at least on the surface.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 26 June 2025
Much of 28 Years Later brings to mind details from other works—there’s a shady character akin to one from Station Eleven; a bloated variant of infected recalls the monsters in the anime Attack on Titan; and the circumstances of Spike’s island echo those of The Village—yet the movie feels singular.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Alicia Silverstone plays a bitter Los Angeles divorce lawyer who goes to Ireland to find her estranged father, only to discover shady business dealings and foul play, in the trailer for the Acorn TV crime drama Irish Blood, which dropped Tuesday.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
In the back garden, for example, there’s a shady grove with hammocks and low seating that is one of the couple’s favorite places to enjoy quiet moments.
—Katia Contreras, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shady
Caroline Tien, SELF, 26 June 2025
Much of 28 Years Later brings to mind details from other works—there’s a shady character akin to one from Station Eleven; a bloated variant of infected recalls the monsters in the anime Attack on Titan; and the circumstances of Spike’s island echo those of The Village—yet the movie feels singular.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Alicia Silverstone plays a bitter Los Angeles divorce lawyer who goes to Ireland to find her estranged father, only to discover shady business dealings and foul play, in the trailer for the Acorn TV crime drama Irish Blood, which dropped Tuesday.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
In the back garden, for example, there’s a shady grove with hammocks and low seating that is one of the couple’s favorite places to enjoy quiet moments.
—Katia Contreras, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shady
Adjective
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Mayes seeks to dissolve both companies, citing violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and deceptive practices targeting underage customers.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
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The suit alleges excessive fees resulting in high annual percentage rates, deceptive tipping practices and misleading consumers about the voluntary nature of fees.—
AJ Dhaliwal,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Credits are issued by independent registries but the market has faced criticism for inconsistent standards, greenwashing, and questionable impact.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Chisholm followed that free pass with a questionable sac bunt for the first out of the inning.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Claire, who blows in and out of Kate’s life, turns up one night pleading for help and telling tales about an accident involving her shifty boyfriend Ryan (Edmund Donovan).—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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By associating vibes with AI, doing so is an outrageous and shifty means of subliminally implying that AI is mysterious, perhaps bordering on possessing sentience.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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This time around, opponents include immigration advocates who are worried about a lack of oversight at the facility, as well as the welfare of detainees being held in tents in Florida's notorious summer humidity and what forecasters predict will be another above-average hurricane season.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
1 July 2025
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Iran acknowledged on Sunday that an Israeli strike on Tehran’s notorious Evin prison last week killed dozens of people.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Julia Fox morphed into a Gothic doll for Marc Jacobs’ fall 2025 ready-to-wear fashion presentation in New York City on Monday night, with jet-black extensions and shadowy eyes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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Ticket Information Brompton Cemetery Catacombs Hidden beneath one of London’s most atmospheric Victorian cemeteries lie the Brompton Catacombs — a shadowy underworld of vaulted chambers and crypts.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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Why Amazon Prime Day scammers are winning and how to stay ahead While Amazon hasn't released a formal statement yet, the company maintains ongoing efforts to detect and remove fraudulent listings and suspicious domains.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
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Republished on July 4 with further police and federal agency warnings that fraudulent callers are now targeting smartphone users in the U.S. This is not the FBI.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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But the mark also represented Hackman's inability to turn down dubious projects.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Connecticut now holds the dubious distinction of having the worst regulatory environment in the country, with unaffordable electric bills and toxic relations between PURA and utility companies.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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The duo stepped out in complementary dark ensembles, with Hayek wearing one of her favorite footwear looks — hefty platform heels — with a black velvet dress.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
9 July 2025
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Look for bronze or dark spots on the foliage or prominent purple veins.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shady. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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